Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Matt Shoemaker threw only four innings on Sunday before being ejected from the game, but his outburst may have lit a fire under his teammates.
Shoemaker, who allowed three hits and three earned runs, exchanged words with home plate umpire Vic Carapazza early in the game. The right-hander was unhappy with a call he didn’t get and apparently said something to Carapazza between innings, which resulted in an ejection. Shoemaker was furious and sprinted out of the dugout at Carapazza.
Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo was also ejected by Carapazza, presumably for defending his pitcher.
The ejections may have helped Toronto, however. Vlad Guerrero Jr. belted a solo home run to tie the game at 3 after Shoemaker and Montoyo were tossed. Anthony Alford followed that up with a two-run shot a few batters later to give the Blue Jays a 5-3 lead.
Ejections have looked much different this year with mask mandates in place, but we’re still seeing plenty of them.
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