The Cincinnati Reds' already frustrating May hit a new low on Tuesday night, as a controversial fan-interference call in the 10th inning may have cost them a chance at tying the game against the Washington Nationals at Great American Ball Park.

With the Reds trailing 8-7 in extra innings, Spencer Steer launched a deep drive to left field that looked destined for the seats. The ball appeared to skip toward the outfield fence, potentially clearing it for a game-tying two-run homer. But as the ball reached the yellow line atop the wall, a fan reached over and caught it, abruptly ending the play.

The umpires initially ruled fan interference, calling it a ground-rule double and forcing Steer to stay at second base. After a video review, the call was upheld—much to the dismay of the Reds and their fans.

"I mean, we'll never know," Reds manager Terry Francona said after the 8-7 loss. "It looked like they probably got it right. It would've been hard to overturn that, in my opinion. I wish they would have. But it would have been hard."

Reds.TV analyst Sam LeCure echoed that sentiment, noting the difficulty of the call. "They can't just give that a home run," he explained. "If it goes over the fence, it's a home run. If it hits the yellow line and comes back in the field of play, it's in play. That's what it is. It's really hard to tell from all the camera work which way it was going to go. We're never going to know that. That's unfortunate. That feels like another little snakebite."

The play sparked immediate outrage on social media, with fans calling for the spectator to be removed and questioning how such a pivotal moment could be decided by an outstretched hand. For a Reds team already reeling—this loss marked their 10th in 12 games—the call felt like yet another cruel twist in a season full of them.

Whether Steer's drive would have cleared the fence or bounced back into play remains a mystery. But for Cincinnati, the sting of "what if" will linger long after the final out.