Chris Sale Ejected Before Game for Confronting Umpire Over Previous Day’s Balk Call

Chris Sale never took the field Sunday at Yankee Stadium, yet the Atlanta Braves starter was still ejected before the first pitch. Sale’s frustration over a balk call from Saturday night’s contest against the New York Yankees boiled over as the umpires prepared for the series finale in the Bronx.

As umpire Dan Merzel and his crew took their positions, Sale directed heated words toward Merzel before Yankees starter Cam Schlittler threw a single pitch. Merzel responded swiftly by tossing Sale from the game, prompting the veteran left-hander to continue his complaint toward crew chief Dan Bellino.

The underlying grievance stemmed from Saturday’s fifth-inning balk call against Sale, which allowed Yankees rookie Spencer Jones to score following an earlier RBI triple. The call marked only the third balk of Sale’s career, a remarkably low total for a pitcher with his extensive resume.

Bellino later explained to pool reporters that Sale failed to declare his pitching motion before facing Austin Wells, despite using a windup delivery against the previous batter, José Caballero. The balk proved pivotal as New York ultimately prevailed 5-4 the previous evening.

Sale permitted three runs on five hits across six innings in Saturday’s loss, his first setback since late June. The right-hander has posted a 2.20 ERA through 21 starts for the NL East-leading Braves this season.

Braves manager Walt Weiss was also ejected, apparently intervening after Sale’s confrontation with Merzel. The Braves won Sunday’s contest 2-1 in 10 innings, though Sale watched from the clubhouse rather than the dugout.