HP Umpire Ryan Additon ejected Brewers manager Pat Murphy for arguing a backswing contact (not interference) call in the 9th inning that wiped out a run-scoring wild pitch, putting runner Sal Frelick back at third base and batter Jake Bauers out on strikes after Bauers' bat hit Rays catcher René Pinto in the head. Report: https://www.closecallsports.com/2024/...

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It does not matter that the pitch was a wild one, or that the ball was by the catcher at the time of the contact with the backswing. The rule is explicitly NOT interference, which means the "hinders or impedes" standard usually seen for interference plays does not apply.

The only question is whether or not the batter's bat unintentionally hit the catcher on the backswing. If yes, the result is a dead ball, runners return, and a strike is added to the count (for Bauers, who had a 1-2 count, this meant strike three). If no, there's no call to make. Replays pretty clearly indicated that, yes, Bauers' bat made contact with Pinto's helmet.