The Cincinnati Reds' tough stretch continued with a heart-breaking 8-7 extra-inning loss to the Washington Nationals on May 13, but it was a controversial call in the bottom of the 10th that left fans buzzing.

After the Nationals took the lead on a two-run homer by Daylen Lile off reliever Tony Santillan in the top of the inning, the Reds had a golden opportunity to answer back. With Sal Stewart starting as the ghost runner at second base and one out, Spencer Steer launched a fly ball deep to left field—a shot that looked destined to clear the wall and tie the game.

But the ball never made it into the field of play. The umpires immediately signaled fan interference, and replays showed why: a fan in the front row reached out with a baseball glove, appearing to snag the ball before it could land. Nationals left fielder James Wood was quick to point at the fan, convinced that the glove crossed the yellow line at the top of the wall—a clear violation of the rules.

In baseball, fan interference is called when a spectator reaches over the outfield wall's yellow line and into the field of play, preventing a fielder from making a play. In this case, the ruling meant Steer was called out, and Stewart had to return to second base. The Reds couldn't mount a rally afterward, sealing their fate in a game that had already seen plenty of drama—including a first-inning homer from catcher Tyler Stephenson and some slick baserunning from shortstop Elly de la Cruz.

So, was it interference or a home run? The video evidence seems to lean toward the former, but for Reds fans, it's a tough pill to swallow. Either way, it's a reminder of how every play—and every fan in the stands—can change the course of a game.