Umpire Jen Pawol Faces Backlash for Controversial Calls in Game

WHO:

Fox News - Jen Pawol ejected Steven Souza Jr. of the San Diego Padres during the second inning.

NY Post - Umpire Jen Pawol was involved in the game.

Sportskeeda - Home plate umpire Jen Pawol was the center of discussion during the game.

WHAT:

Fox News - Jen Pawol was reported to have a 91.8% accuracy rating, making her the third-worst umpire of the season according to UmpScorecards.com.

NY Post - The game ended with a controversial 5-4 win for the Padres.

Sportskeeda - Jen Pawol made two controversial calls that frustrated both benches.

WHERE:

Fox News - The game took place at Petco Park in San Diego, California.

Sportskeeda - The game took place between the Toronto Blue Jays and the San Diego Padres.

WHEN:

Sportskeeda - The game occurred on a Sunday.

WHY:

Sportskeeda - Fans criticized Jen Pawol, comparing her performance to that of Angel Hernandez.

HOW:

Fox News - Jen Pawol did not allow the batter to challenge a call, stating he was too late, which was reported to be incorrect. She also appeared to call a balk on the pitcher before changing the call to a strike.

NY Post - The sequence of events began in the bottom of the second inning.

(UPDATED July 13, 2026 20:20 UTC)

In a controversial moment during a game at Petco Park in San Diego, California, umpire Jen Pawol ejected Steven Souza Jr. of the San Diego Padres in the second inning. Pawol, who has a reported accuracy rating of 91.8%, is currently ranked as the third-worst umpire of the season according to UmpScorecards.com. The situation escalated when she denied Souza the opportunity to challenge a call, claiming he was too late, and also appeared to initially call a balk on the pitcher before changing it to a strike.

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(UPDATED July 13, 2026 15:52 UTC)

In a closely contested game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the San Diego Padres, the Padres emerged with a controversial 5-4 victory. Home plate umpire Jen Pawol found herself at the center of attention after making two contentious calls that frustrated players and fans alike, drawing comparisons to umpire Angel Hernandez. The drama unfolded starting in the bottom of the second inning, leading to widespread criticism of Pawol's performance.