NEW YORK – Braves left-hander Chris Sale was ejected by third-base umpire Dan Merzel before Sunday’s game against the Yankees. No reason was given immediately.
However, Sale was upset on Saturday that he was charged with a balk by Merzel, who was the home-plate umpire, during Atlanta’s 5-4 loss to New York at Yankee Stadium.
With the score tied at 2, Spencer Jones on third and Austin Wells batting in the fifth inning, Merzel said Sale twitched his right leg before informing the umpire that he was going to throw from the windup. Merzel then told Jones to touch home.
Sale and Braves manager Walt Weiss argued for several minutes. Weiss was then ejected from the game with the Yankees leading, 3-2. It was Weiss' first ejection as the Braves' manager.
“He is required by rule to make that declaration as a hybrid pitcher,” said crew chief Dan Bellino. “Your traditional pitcher that pitches from the traditional windup and traditional stretch does not have to make the declaration.”
Per Elias, Sale was ejected for the fourth time in his career but the first in a game in which he did not pitch. The last time came seven years ago this week at Yankee Stadium – Aug. 3, 2019, while pitching for the Red Sox.