” We informed the workplace that if it continued we d stop it,” West said. “And we did.”
This newest event accompanied the last-place Nationals batting in the seventh inning, tracking NL East-leading Atlanta by six runs in a game the safeguarding World Series champions eventually lost 10-3.
After Chris Martin threw a pitch to Eric Thames with two outs, umpire Hunter Wendelstedt stepped far from the plate, turned to deal with the stands and shouted “Youre out” while cocking his thumb.
Rizzo was standing outside the box, high above the plate at Truist Park, without a mask and was barking toward the field.
” He was stating, youre ruthless and other things,” West said. “Were in a pandemic situation, you can hear everything.”
With no crowd in the ballpark because of the coronavirus, someone on the field might be heard saying, “call security.” West then strolled to the Braves dugout to use a telephone.
Braves initially baseman Freddie Freeman stated he heard somebody yelling before Wendlestedt reacted.
” I think I heard somebody shouting a couple days back, too,” Freeman stated, including, “Theres no fans in the stands so weve got to keep the yelling to ourselves.”
Nationals manager Dave Martinez said “someone shouted” but said he didnt offer more details.
” I spoke to Hunter briefly,” Martinez stated. “He stated we wish to see what we can do about getting a particular guy out.”
Big league Baseball said it had actually started an inquiry.
” We have actually currently remained in interaction with the Nationals regarding what transpired throughout todays video game, and we will talk with the umpiring crew today,” MLB said in a declaration. “We will expect Joe Wests team to offer a complete account of their viewpoint, and we will follow up with them appropriately.”
The ejection came a day after the Nationals announced a multiyear contract extension for the 59-year-old Rizzo, who likewise is the teams president of baseball operations.
Now this was an out-of-the-box ejection.
Washington Nationals basic manager Mike Rizzo was tossed for shouting at umpires from a high-end suite in Atlanta on Sunday, with longtime crew chief Joe West saying, “enough is enough.”
I wouldnt take that from a supervisor,” West told The Associated Press. “If it was Donald Trump, I d eject him, too.
The 67-year-old West, on track to set the record for many games umpired in big league history next year, stated the team informed the commissioners workplace Friday that Rizzo was hollering at umpires earlier in the Nationals-Braves series.
Washington has struggled this season and is 14-25. World Seies MVP Stephen Strasburg just recently was ejected for shouting at umpires from the stands while the Nationals played the Mets in New York.
Rizzo has gotten steamed at umpires in the past, most notably at Citi Field in 2016 after a loss to the Mets. Rizzo and ump Jim Joyce needed to be separated as they argued in a hallway where the locker rooms for the umpires and groups are located.
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AP Sports Writer Charles Odum added to this report.
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