Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale found himself ejected from Sunday’s game at Yankee Stadium before the first pitch was even thrown. Sale’s dismissal stemmed from lingering frustration over a balk call made during Saturday’s match against the New York Yankees.

The Incident

The balk call, issued by umpire Dan Merzel in the fifth inning on Saturday, allowed Yankees rookie Spencer Jones to score after his RBI triple, contributing to the Yankees’ 5-4 victory over the Braves. Sale, known for his control, had only been called for a balk twice in his career before Saturday.

Still upset about the call, Sale targeted Merzel with his ire as the umpires arrived for the series finale. Before the Yankees’ pitcher Cam Schlittler could commence play, Sale confronted Merzel from afar, resulting in an immediate ejection. Sale didn’t let his exit go quietly, voicing his displeasure to crew chief Dan Bellino.

Official Explanation

After Saturday’s game, Bellino explained Sale’s balk was due to not declaring his windup stance prior to the at-bat against Austin Wells, creating inconsistency after striking out José Caballero in the windup.

Saturday’s loss was a rare blemish in Sale’s season, as he holds a 2.20 ERA through 21 starts, contributing to the Braves’ lead in the NL East.

Outcome

The Braves managed to take the series finale against the Yankees in a tight 2-1 contest, but Sale was absent from the dugout following his ejection.

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