John Lackey was predictably peeved about being ejected from the Chicago Cubs’ game on Friday.
Lackey was facing St. Louis’ Carlos Martinez in the fifth and had a 2-2 count with two on and two outs. He threw what he — and even Martinez — felt was strike three, but the pitch was called a ball. Given a second life, Martinez singled to break a 1-1 tie and give the Cardinals the lead.
Lackey let umpire Jordan Baker hear it after the hit, as did catcher Willson Contreras. Both were ejected.
Following the game, Lackey talked about the ejection and delivered a great comment.
“It was a pretty big spot right there. It cost me a big league win. Those don’t grow on trees,” the Cubs pitcher said.
Hey, he’s not wrong. He does have 187 of them, but wins are not easy to come by for a starter, and you want every one of them. And any player would be justified in being upset if an umpire cost him the way Baker did on Friday.
The fiery reaction is nothing new for Lackey, who has been known to have explosions on the mound now and again.
