Henry Davis has a great reputation when it comes to catching the Pirates’ excellent young pitching staff. He showed why in a good-natured moment during Monday’s 16-5 blowout of the Nationals.
Left-handed pitcher Evan Sisk -- making his 2026 debut after a call-up earlier in the day -- was on mop-up duty with a double-digit lead in the eighth and ninth innings. Not only did he shut out the red-hot Nats with three strikeouts while allowing just one hit, but he flirted with history.
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Sisk started the ninth inning with strikeouts of Keibert Ruiz and Joey Wiemer on six pitches. Then he started Luis García Jr. with a pair of strikes. Could he secure the second immaculate inning of the 2026 season, joining the Diamondbacks’ Michael Soroka on March 30?
Sisk opted for a 78.5 mph sweeper to the lefty-hitting Garcia. The offering broke across the plate but fell a bit low and away -- clearly a ball. Garcia wasn’t fooled and took the pitch.
But Davis, aptly recognizing the situation, presented the ball to home plate umpire Sean Barber for an extra second before tapping his helmet to challenge. It was pretty clear Davis knew the pitch was a ball, but hey, in a 16-5 game, with two outs in the ninth and with an immaculate inning on the line? Why not!
The call -- the only Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge used in the game -- was upheld. It officially missed the strike zone by 2.8 inches.
Davis took a slight hit on his strong 5-for-7 start with successful challenges this season, but we certainly think it was worth it. And who knows? Maybe we'll see an immaculate inning clinched via an ABS challenge later this season.
Meanwhile, the good times just keep on rolling for the Buccos, who improved to 10-6 and continue to lead the NL Central in the early going.