Full Breakdown
Brewers Reliever Abner Uribe’s DX-Chop Celebration Sparks Managerial Reprimand and Inter-Team Tension
5/27/2026, 11:51:50 PM
The Incident: Celebration in a 6-0 Victory
On May 26, 2026, at American Family Field, Milwaukee closed out the eighth inning of a 6-0 win over St. Louis by striking out Alec Burleson. Reliever Abner Uribe then turned toward the Cardinals’ dugout and performed three WWE-style D-Generation X crotch chops. The gesture, delivered while the Brewers held a comfortable lead, prompted immediate criticism from his manager and ignited a dispute between the clubs.
Background: Uribe’s Emotional Reputation
Uribe’s on-field intensity is well documented. In April 2024 he received a six-game suspension after a benches-clearing brawl with the Tampa Bay Rays. He posted a 1.75 ERA in 2024, but his 2025 ERA rose to 4.19, and entering the 2026 season he carried a 4.42 ERA over 20 appearances (2-2 record). The celebration marked a rare lapse in an otherwise disciplined season.
Key Figures
- Abner Uribe – 25-year-old right-hander, Brewers reliever.
- Pat Murphy – Brewers manager, publicly labeled the gesture “unacceptable.”
- Oliver Marmol – Cardinals manager, denied any wrongdoing.
- Christian Yelich – Brewers outfielder, commented on the celebration.
- Iván Herrera – Cardinals catcher, described the act as disrespectful.
Game Data & Season Statistics
- Final score: Brewers 6, Cardinals 0.
- Uribe entered in the top of the eighth with runners on first and second; he recorded two strikeouts and one walk.
- Kyle Harrison started for Milwaukee, allowing four hits over six innings and lowering his ERA to 1.57.
- Brewers’ record improved to 32-20, extending their NL Central lead to 3½ games.
Official Statements & Responses
Pat Murphy told reporters the celebration was “embarrassing” and “not how we do things,” emphasizing that the team could not tolerate such conduct. Uribe, speaking through an interpreter, apologized to teammates, coaches and the organization, acknowledging the act was “unacceptable.” He also alleged that Oliver Marmol had been signaling to his pitchers to target Brewers hitters, specifically Christian Yelich and William Contreras, and referenced an unspecified practice-field incident. Marmol responded that he preferred not to “blow anything out of proportion,” characterizing the allegation as an “everyday occurrence” and offering no further comment. Christian Yelich called the gesture “a little bit over the top” but defended Uribe’s intent to protect teammates. Iván Herrera labeled the chop “disrespectful to the entire team.”
Criticism & Opposition
Social-media users and several fans described the celebration as “childish” and “unprofessional,” arguing that a 6-0 lead did not warrant such theatrics. Commentators noted the risk of escalating tensions in an otherwise routine game.
On-the-Ground Perspectives
Herrera recounted a brief exchange after Uribe’s high-and-tight pitch earlier in the inning, saying, “I feel like that’s disrespectful to the entire team.” Yelich echoed a similar sentiment, noting the need for a “different way to handle that situation.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Uribe’s claim of sign-relaying by Marmol remains unverified; Marmol denied any intent to target Brewers batters and offered no evidence. The alleged practice-field incident was not described, leaving a factual gap in the narrative.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I was embarrassed by it. Why are we doing it? It's a 6-0 game. What are we doing there?” — Pat Murphy, Brewers manager
- “I owe an apology to the Brewers, I owe an apology to my teammates, to my manager, all the bosses of the team. I understand that’s unacceptable to go out there and react in a way like that.” — Abner Uribe, Brewers reliever
- “I’d rather not blow anything out of proportion,” — Oliver Marmol, Cardinals manager
- “Obviously, I don’t think the strikeout celebration is something we need to be doing,” — Christian Yelich, Brewers outfielder
- “I feel like it's just disrespectful to the entire team what he did, so you know, I hope we take care of it and we move on,” — Iván Herrera, Cardinals catcher
What’s Next
The Brewers and Cardinals will finish their three-game series the following day, after which the teams meet again in early July. MLB has not announced any league-level discipline for Uribe, but the incident may influence future clubhouse policies and could affect Uribe’s role in high-leverage situations.
