Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls (6) was ejected by umpire Nic Lentz (59) after Walls tapped his helmet with his hand on a called third strike against the Houston Astros in the ninth inning at Daikin Park. Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

Watch: Rays' Taylor Walls snaps after ejection against Astros

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Jun 1, 2025 6:25 PM ET

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls went ballistic in Sunday's road game against the Houston Astros.

On Walls' at-bat in the bottom of the ninth inning, umpire Nic Lentz called a low 84 mph slider from Astros relief pitcher Josh Hader a strike. The shortstop took issue with the call, tapping his helmet, the signal for challenging when the Automated Ball-Strike System is used. Of course, the ABS is not yet used in regular-season major league games.

This offended Lentz, who ejected Walls from the game. After berating the umpire, he charged at home plate again before coaches and teammates grabbed him and made him walk back toward the dugout.

Taylor Walls was ejected from the game after tapping his helmet.

(via @SpaceCityHN) pic.twitter.com/zVuZP3bHFw
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 1, 2025

Tampa Bay left fielder Christopher Morel replaced Walls and struck out swinging. The Rays lost 1-0, falling to 30-29.

It's easy to argue both parties were at fault. Lentz ejecting the shortstop after tapping his helmet seems soft, but Walls shouldn't have lost his cool.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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