Day Two of MLB’s crackdown on pitchers using sticky substances went to another level.
Nationals ace Max Scherzer was inspected by umpires twice at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia — the second time at the behest of Phillies manager Joe Girardi.
Scherzer, who was visibly disgruntled by both checks, engaged in a staredown with Girardi after the fourth inning. The Philly skipper responded by hopping out of the dugout and inviting Scherzer to engage him directly.
That earned Girardi an ejection.
Scherzer waved goodbye to Girardi, holding his hat and glove in the air to taunt him.
It wasn’t the first snarky display from the Washington hurler, who slumped his shoulders while being given a once-over after the first inning. In the bottom of the fourth, after recording his seventh strikeout of the evening with a 3-1 lead, Scherzer threw his hat and glove to the ground and offered to take off his pants when Girardi requested another check.
Umpires declined to take Scherzer’s hat or glove.
Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom was the first to be checked under MLB’s new protocols, getting inspected by umpire during Monday’s start against the Braves.
