key man Ejected
Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale was ejected before Sunday’s matchup against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, despite not being scheduled to pitch in the contest.
The unusual incident occurred shortly before first pitch, when third-base umpire Dan Merzel removed Sale from the game.
Merzel had previously been seen speaking with Sale near the Braves’ dugout, and the conversation initially appeared to end without any major confrontation.
Ejection Comes After Saturday’s Disputed Call
The unexpected ejection appeared to be connected to an incident from Saturday’s game between the Braves and Yankees.
Merzel served as the home-plate umpire during that contest and called Sale for a balk, a decision that allowed Yankees prospect Spencer Jones to score.
Sale and Braves manager Walt Weiss strongly disputed the call, with the pitcher engaging in a lengthy argument with the umpire before Weiss was ultimately ejected.
Braves Get Last Laugh in Extra Innings
Although the reason for Sale’s Sunday ejection was not immediately announced, the timing suggested that the previous day’s confrontation may have played a role.
Sale was not scheduled to take the mound, making his removal particularly surprising. The Braves eventually put the controversy behind them on the field, defeating New York 2-1 in 10 innings to even the weekend battle against the Yankees.
Controversy Adds Another Chapter to Series
The incident added another layer of drama to an already heated series between Atlanta and New York. The Yankees had won Saturday’s game 5-4 after the disputed balk call involving Sale, but the Braves responded with a tight extra-inning victory the following day.
While Sale’s ejection did not directly affect Atlanta’s pitching plans for Sunday, it highlighted the lingering frustration surrounding Saturday’s call and created an unusual storyline before the series finale even began.
