Justin Turner defends Phillies pitcher against ejection despite being hit by pitch
Justin Turner did something highly unusual during Monday’s game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies — he advocated for a pitcher to remain in the game despite being nailed with a pitch.
Turner was batting in the top of the 8th inning with his Dodgers leading 12-1. Phillies reliever Yacksel Rios allowed two doubles and a home run to Alex Verdugo to make it 12-1. He then hit Turner with an 84 mph slider on the first pitch after Verdugo’s dinger.
Even Justin Turner argues in defense of the pitcher here after being hit. What a joke of an umpire. Suspend his dumbass for the next month#Dodgers #Phillies pic.twitter.com/RaIKlKmRVE
— gary (@gporter812) July 16, 2019
Rios was immediately ejected by umpire Doug Eddings.
The reaction from the umpire made sense: a pitcher was getting hammered by a team and hit a batter on the first pitch after allowing a home run. However, a closer look shows Rios threw an off-speed pitch that just seemed to miss the zone. You don’t send a message with an 84 mph pitch, which is why Gabe Kapler and Turner were pleading with Eddings.
It’s unusual to see a player who just got hit stand up for the pitcher, but that was how ridiculous of a reaction it was to toss Rios from the game.
This is nothing new for Kapler, who seems to keep protesting pitcher ejections.
