Helsley, a Native American, had just completed a scoreless seventh inning. He had entered the game in the sixth, with one out and a runner on first base, after Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright had thrown five shutout innings.

The 25-year-old Helsley has been one of the Cardinals’ most effective relievers this season, posting a 2.63 ERA in 27 appearances. He has struck out 34 batters in 30.2 innings pitched.

Hellsley’s entry into the game on Tuesday night was met with cheers from the Cardinals fans in attendance. But it also drew criticism on social media, with some people accusing the team of insensitively using a song with Native American imagery in its lyrics.

“It’s Hellsley, not Hells Bells,” one Twitter user wrote. “The Cardinals are playing ‘Hells Bells’ when Ryan Helsley enters the game. Bad decision.”

Another Twitter user wrote, “The Cardinals playing Hells Bells when Ryan Helsley enters the game is unbelievably tone deaf and just ignorant.”

Cardinals officials said they were unaware of the lyrics of the song and would not have played it if they had known. “We are sorry for any misunderstanding,” the team said in a statement. “We will no longer play the song when Ryan Helsley is pitching.”

This was an all-time choke job by the Cardinals, who let a 7-4 lead and a chance to put a stranglehold on the National League Division Series slip away in stunning fashion. And it will go down as one of the most improbable comebacks in postseason history.

Helsley, who declined to comment on the situation after the game, has not said publicly whether he was bothered by the use of the song.