Boston Red Sox
“He can turn the game around, or he has the ability to.”
Carlos Narvaez faced one of Boston’s successful ABS challenges on Thursday. (AP Photo/Caroline Custer)
The Red Sox opened the 2026 season with a 3-0 win over the Reds thanks to a masterful outing from Garrett Crochet, three shutout runs from their bullpen, and timely hitting.
Oh, and MLB Automated challenge system for hitting the ball.
The new system – commonly called the ABS Challenge System – gives players the opportunity to challenge the referee’s call for a ball or strike in real time in order to reverse the decisive call.
Each team starts the match with two challenges. If the challenge is successful — meaning the original call is overturned — the team keeps it. If the call stops, the challenge is lost, with only the hitter, pitcher, or catcher given the ability to initiate the challenge over the course of the game.
The Red Sox made the most of the new gauntlet system Thursday against the Reds.
While a challenge issued by catcher Carlos Narvaez helped secure the shutout for Crochet in the fourth inning, the most important challenge for Boston came in the ninth inning, with the Red Sox holding a slim 1-0 lead.
With two out and one on and Roman Anthony At the plate with the count full, the Red Sox outfielder was called out by home plate umpire Dan Iassogna on the called third strike.
Anthony immediately tapped the batting helmet to signal a challenge. A subsequent review revealed that the pitch was a few inches from the strike zone, resulting in the call being reversed and Anthony being rewarded with a walk.
This reversal allowed Boston to keep the inning alive, with Trevor Story following up Anthony with a two-out RBI single driven in by Marcelo Mayer to make it 2-0.
Jarren Duran finished off the scoring as the next man up — hitting a pitch to right field to score Anthony and give closer Aroldis Chapman a three-run cushion entering the bottom of the ninth.
“It’s a different ball game now,” Alex Cora said after the game. Per Sean McAdam of MassLive. “If it was a penalty, it was a 1-0 match with Xavi in the game, on this pitch. And then we were able to add more, so it was a big challenge.”
The new ABS should benefit sharply disciplined hitters like Anthony, as the 21-year-old has a .396 OBP during his rookie season in 2025.
“That’s what he does” “It’s a big deal,” Mayer told MLB Network Anthony’s plate discipline and strike zone knowledge. “I mean, Roman, that’s why he’s our leadoff spot. Roman does a great job of seeing pitches and getting on base, and that was a great example.
“He knows the area really well, he has a strong ground. A strong ground, he won the ball, and then we have great strikers behind him who are able to take advantage of it. So having him at the top of the line-up helps.”
In addition to his timely challenge, Anthony was regularly setting the table at the top of Boston’s lineup on Tuesday — going 3-for-4 at the plate and reaching base four total times.
Anthony may be at his best when he’s on the gridiron. However, his keen eye on the board should also come in handy when choosing the right spots to use ABS moving forward.
“You see it there, it’s critical,” Anthony told McAdam. “He can turn the game around, or he has the ability to. You saw what happened next [his challenge]so it is important to have [a challenge] there. I think we’ve done a good job of preserving and preserving them.
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