Jen Pawol becomes 1st woman to umpire MLB regular-season game - ESPN

ATLANTA — Jen Pawol has made history as the first woman to umpire a regular-season game in the major leagues.

Pawol's much-anticipated debut came as the first-base umpire for Saturday's first game of a split doubleheader between the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins. She enjoyed a quiet first inning, watching as Braves right-hander Hurston Waldrep struck out the first two batters before Agustin Ramirez lined out to third baseman Nacho Alvarez Jr.

The Braves also were set down in order by Miami right-hander Ryan Gusto in the bottom of the first inning, with no calls from Pawol needed at first base.

As the first-base umpire, Pawol's responsibility was to check Waldrep's hands for foreign substances following the inning. During that brief encounter, she also appeared to receive a warm greeting from Braves catcher Sean Murphy on his way to the dugout.

Pawol's first real test came in the third inning when she called Muprhy safe on a close play. Replays indicated Murphy may have been out, but Marlins manager Clayton McCullough did not challenge the call. Later in the inning, she made an animated call on Miami's Xavier Edwards when he grounded into a double play, Pawol pumped her fist and lifted her leg when she called Edwards out at the first base bag.

Pawol couldn't help but notice her debut was being watched closely. Fans responded with a warm ovation when the video board focused on the umpire between innings, forcing her to take a quick glance at her image.

Pawol will work third base in Saturday night's second game of the doubleheader. She will be in the spotlight when she calls pitches behind the plate in Sunday's final game of the series.

There was much anticipation for her historic debut Saturday. A crowd of photographers