Chris Sale ejected before pitch after disputed balk call
Braves pitcher tossed by umpire Dan Merzel before Sunday game vs. Yankees, a day after controversial balk ruling.
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Summary, timeline and people extracted by Claude from 20 items across 3 sources · 5h ago. Quotes are verbatim.
Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale was ejected by third-base umpire Dan Merzel before the first pitch of Sunday's game against the New York Yankees, continuing a dispute that began when Merzel called him for a balk on Saturday that scored a run. Sale was upset about Saturday's call, in which Merzel ruled he balked because he failed to declare he was pitching from the windup before Austin Wells' at-bat. The ejection was Sale's fourth career ejection and first since 2019.
- Sale ejected before first pitch on Sunday, one day after controversial balk call by same umpire on Saturday that led to a Yankees run.
- The balk stemmed from Sale not declaring he would pitch from the windup before Wells' at-bat, a requirement for hybrid pitchers per MLB rules.
- This is Sale's fourth career ejection and first without pitching in a game; his manager Weiss was also ejected on Saturday arguing the call.
- Sale remains 12-7 with a 2.20 ERA in his third season with Atlanta.
How it unfolded
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Report Ejection details reported
Media reports confirm Sale's fourth career ejection and first since Aug. 3, 2019. It is his first ejection without pitching in a game.
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Event Sale ejected before Sunday game
As the umpire crew walks by the Braves' dugout on the third base side before Sunday's game, Sale barks at Merzel, now working as the third-base umpire. Merzel immediately ejects him. No pitch is thrown.
“Braves ace Chris Sale was ejected by umpire Dan Merzel before a pitch was thrown in Sunday's game against the Yankees, a day after being called for a balk that scored a run.”
AP · Press ↗ -
Reaction Sale and Weiss argue balk call
Sale vigorously argues the balk call with Merzel. Manager Walt Weiss continues the argument and is ejected from the game. This is Weiss' first ejection as Braves manager.
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Event Balk call during Saturday game
Umpire Dan Merzel, working behind home plate, calls Sale for a balk in the fifth inning with Spencer Jones on third and Austin Wells batting. The call allows Jones to score, giving the Yankees a 3-2 lead in their eventual 5-4 victory.
“He is required by rule to make that declaration as a hybrid pitcher. Your traditional pitcher that pitches from the traditional windup and traditional stretch does not have to make the declaration.”
Dan Bellino · Mastodon ↗
What people are saying verbatim
“He is required by rule to make that declaration as a hybrid pitcher. Your traditional pitcher that pitches from the traditional windup and traditional stretch does not have to make the declaration.”
Dan Bellino, Crew chief · MLB.com ↗
“Braves ace Chris Sale was ejected by umpire Dan Merzel before a pitch was thrown in Sunday's game against the Yankees, a day after being called for a balk that scored a run.”
AP, News wire · AP News
“Sale was called for his third career balk by Merzel during the fifth inning of Saturday's 5-4 loss.”
AP, News wire · AP News ↗
“It was his first since Aug. 3, 2019, when he pitched for Boston and was tossed by Mike Estabrook for arguing balls and strikes during the fourth inning of a 9-2 loss at Yankee Stadium.”
AP, News wire · AP News ↗