Chris Sale Ejected Before Game Starts Against Yankees

Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale faced an unexpected situation at Yankee Stadium on Sunday afternoon, being ejected from the game before throwing a single pitch. The conflict originated from a controversial balk call in the previous night’s game against the New York Yankees.

Prior to the game’s start, Sale expressed his frustration with the umpire responsible for the call, Dan Merzel, as the umpires entered the field. This outburst occurred before Yankees starter Cam Schlittler delivered the first official pitch.

The disagreement began on Saturday night when Merzel called a balk on Sale in the fifth inning. This instance allowed Yankees rookie Spencer Jones to score following an RBI triple. The Yankees won that game 5-4, with that run proving crucial. Sale’s balk count for his career is low, marking this as only his third. Braves manager Walt Weiss was also ejected, stepping in as Sale continued his protest.

Dan Bellino, the crew chief, explained afterward that Sale did not announce his intent to pitch from the windup before facing Austin Wells, unlike his previous encounter with José Caballero.

Despite frustration, Sale has shown a strong season performance. Over 21 starts, he maintains a 2.20 ERA, contributing greatly to the Braves’ leading NL East status. However, his outing on Saturday concluded with him allowing three runs on five hits in six innings, marking his first loss since June.

The Braves managed a comeback on Sunday, winning 2-1 in extra innings against the Yankees. However, after his ejection, Sale was unable to support his team from the dugout.

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