The Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Guardians were scheduled to face off at Progressive Field on Monday, and the game was tied until the eighth inning, when Royals commentator Rex Hudler pulled off an incredible—and seemingly unintentional—backward curse that ultimately gave Kansas City the win.
Hunter Gaddis stepped onto the mound to start the inning, with Bobby Witt Jr. as the Royals’ first batter. As Gaddis prepared to throw his second pitch of the inning, Hudler, who was commentating the game with Jake Eisenberg at Bally Sports Kansas City, marveled at the fact that he had allowed only three home runs all season. You can probably guess what happened next.
Hunter Gaddis has allowed just three home runs this season. Thanks to the game-winning hits from Bobby Witt Jr., he now has four. #Royal pic.twitter.com/JzyZIWwpuk
— Bally Sports Kansas City (@BallySportsKC) 26 August 2024
“Man, oh man, he only allowed three home runs? Four!”
Hudler had barely finished his sentence when he was interrupted by the crack of Witt’s bat. Without pausing, he corrected himself to give the new total. It was Witt’s 27th home run of the year and, oddly enough, the second in a row that Gaddis had allowed a home run. It was only the third earned run he had allowed in all of August and the 11th of the season.
Hudler can clearly influence the course of the game by simply pointing out stats during the broadcast, which could prove useful in the final stretch.
