The Baltimore Orioles were upset with the way things were handled during Wednesday night’s game against the Boston Red Sox after starting pitcher Kevin Gausman was ejected in the bottom of the second inning for hitting Xander Bogaerts with a pitch.
Gausman hit Bogaerts around the hip with the first pitch of the inning and was immediately ejected by home plate umpire Sam Holbrook.
The Orioles complained because Gausman hit Bogaerts with a 77 mph curveball, not a fastball that is typically used when trying to send a message.
Catcher Caleb Joseph had set up outside for the pitch and spiked his mask after Gausman was ejected. He was furious and began yelling at Holbrook. Orioles manager Buck Showalter came out to contest the decision. Gausman was also incensed, saying to Holbrook that the pitch was a curve.
Por esto expulsaron a Kevin Gausman. Increíble. pic.twitter.com/eNjuvrppwE
— #DoYourJob (@renucho) May 4, 2017
NESN’s announcers even called Holbrook “clueless” for ejecting Gausman on a 77 mph curveball.
Holbrook had a reason for having a quick trigger. The drama between the two sides has been high, especially after Manny Machado was thrown at for the second time this season against Boston. Maybe Holbrook had a no-tolerance policy, but it seems to have backfired here and truly harmed the Orioles’ chances of winning the game by forcing them to go to the bullpen in the second inning.
