08/09/26 04:11:00
Printable Page
08/09 16:09 CDT Braves ace Chris Sale ejected by umpire Dan Merzel before start
of game against Yankees
Braves ace Chris Sale ejected by umpire Dan Merzel before start of game against
Yankees
By LARRY FLEISHER
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) --- Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale was ejected by umpire Dan
Merzel before a pitch was thrown in Sunday's game against the New York Yankees,
a day after being called for a balk that scored a run.
As umpires took the field and walked by the Braves' dugout on the third base
side, Sale began barking. Merzel tossed him and Sale said something to crew
chief Dan Bellino as the two talked near the dugout rail.
"I was by the bat rack because the game was about to start and I was getting my
helmet," center fielder Michael Harris II said after his 10th-inning single
gave Atlanta a 2-1 win. "I didn't see him talking to him, but I actually seen
the motion of him throwing him out. I was kind of confused but then I saw Sale
and remember what happened yesterday and I put two and two together."
Sale was called for his third career balk by Merzel during the fifth inning of
Saturday's 5-4 loss. Rookie Spencer Jones scored on the balk after getting an
RBI triple and Sale began fiercely yelling at Merzel before manager Walt Weiss
continued the argument and was ejected.
"I think he had some words for the umpire from yesterday, but you know what,
it's behind us," Weiss said. "Everyone had their say and we move on."
Bellino told a pool reporter after Saturday's game that Sale was called for the
balk because he did not declare he was going to pitch from the windup. Bellino
said Sale declared he was pitching from the windup when he struck out Jos
Caballero but did not do so ahead of the at-bat to Austin Wells.
It was Sale's fourth career ejection. It was his first since Aug. 3, 2019, when
he pitched for Boston and was tossed by Mike Estabrook for arguing balls and
strikes during the fourth inning of a 9-2 loss at Yankee Stadium.
Sale allowed three runs and five hits in six innings Saturday for his first
loss since June 28. In his third season with the Braves, the veteran
left-hander is 12-7 with a 2.20 ERA in 21 starts.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
|
