BOSTON -- Using ABS is still an adventure for players as the calendar turns to May.
Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu and home-plate umpire Laz Diaz amusingly confused each other Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park.
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Abreu faced Astros starter Cody Bolton in the first inning and watched a 2-2 fastball miss for a ball. Diaz announced the count at three balls and two strikes. Instead, Abreu apparently thought Diaz called him out on strike three looking. The Boston outfielder tapped his helmet to challenge the pitch, sparking a perplexed reaction from Diaz.
The umpire assured Abreu that he called a ball, not a strike. Abreu stepped out of the box with a chuckle, then walked on the next pitch to put two runners on for the Red Sox.
Abreu is 1-for-2 on challenges this season, though he’ll be happy to not have needed one to start Sunday’s game.