An MLB Game Ended on This Play for the First Time Ever
Baseball is a sport that prides itself on honoring the past, but recent attempts to modernize the game have been met with mixed results from fans. Many fans don't enjoy the "ghost runner" during extra innings games, but the pitch clock has been seen as an almost unanimous success.
Major League Baseball has introduced another rule change in the 2026 season, and less than one week into the campaign we've seen a game end after it was referenced.
On Wednesday, the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Texas Rangers 8-3 in an early-afternoon matinee. The final at-bat of the game saw Rangers hitter Wyatt Langford facing Orioles pitcher Albert Suarez.
A 1-2 pitch from Suarez was ruled a ball, but Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo saw things differently. Basallo opted to use an ABS (automatic ball-strike) challenge, and it overturned the umpire's ruling. Langford went from a 2-2 count to being the final out of the game, and Basallo's decision to challenge made MLB history.
"BASALLO FOR THE WIN ... YES!!!"
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) April 1, 2026
A GAME-ENDING ABS CHALLENGE FOR THE ORIOLES ????#Birdlandpic.twitter.com/Dzo88Ocler
The Orioles' win over the Rangers is the first game in Major League Baseball's long history to end with an ABS challenge. The rule was instituted this season, giving players the ability to challenge ball and strike calls made by umpires.
How Do ABS Challenges Work in MLB?
The rule affords each team two challenges that can be used after any pitch. If a team is successful with its first challenge, it retains the right to use both challenges later in the game. Unsuccessful challenges are lost.
Teams are afforded an additional challenge if games go to extra innings, as the challenges are intended to be managed and strategically used over the course of a standard nine-inning game.
Batters, pitchers and catchers are the only players allowed to initiate a challenge, and they must do so within two seconds of the pitch by tapping their cap or helmet. The result of the challenge is shown on the stadium's video board via an animated graphic - similar to in/out calls in tennis.
Trent Grisham challenged the high fastball. It missed by a lot. The umpire made the adjustment two pitches later on another high fastball! Good job mr umpire! pic.twitter.com/6iE6rQjuc7
— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) April 1, 2026
The only situations in which challenges are not allowed include: when position players are called to pitch, after replay reviews or at the discretion of an umpire. Umpires are allowed to refuse a challenge if the outcome of a play was dictated by runners, defenders or either dugout.
Players, Fans Have Enjoyed the New Rule
Through the first week of the season, certain teams and players have proven to be adept at using the new system. The Yankees have a league-best 80% success rate as the batting team so far, with four teams (Marlins, Mets, Braves, Pirates) still sitting at 0% as a batting team.
The Dodgers, Brewers and Orioles have the most challenge wins from the pitching side so far with five, while the Cardinals and Rangers have yet to win on the defensive side.
According to an MLB survey at spring training, 72% of fans said that they had a positive view on the ABS challenge system.
Baseball has been known as America's pastime, but new rules and additions to the game show that players and fans are fine with moving into the future.