Bumgarner ejected after puzzling exchange with ump

2 years ago
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MIAMI — One of the D-backs’ most steady starters, three-time World Series champion Madison Bumgarner was ejected from the series finale against the Marlins on Wednesday after the first inning.

Bumgarner had to be held back by two coaches, a teammate and manager Torey Lovullo after he appeared to enter a heated exchange with first-base umpire Dan Bellino following a sticky substance check and the final out of the inning. During the exchange, Bellino appeared to check Bumgarner’s hand manually but without breaking eye contact with the starter. The content of the exchange was unclear. Bumgarner had seemed to take issue with at least one ball/strike call during the inning.

The southpaw allowed one run in his one inning of work on a leadoff home run to Jon Berti. It was his second career ejection, after he was thrown out on June 11, 2018, while with San Francisco for arguing balls and strikes. 

Bumgarner has been a mainstay in the D-backs rotation, and entered the game looking to build on his first win of the season his last time out.