Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Walker Buehler was making his return to the rotation on Tuesday night after missing the past month on the IL. His return lasted just 2.1 innings, and it wasn't because of ineffectiveness or an injury issue.
It was because he got ejected.
Buehler was livid with home plate umpire Mike Estabrook following a pitch to New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto that was called a ball.
The pitch looked like it should have been a strike, as it was not only above Soto's knees, but also right down the middle of the plate.
After Buehler was ejected, Red Sox manager Alex Cora was also given the hook.
Here is a look at the entire sequence.
Walker Buehler and Alex Cora just got EJECTED in the third inning
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) May 20, 2025
: @TBSNetwork pic.twitter.com/aKOvKqYa8V
A few things can all be true at the same time here.
It is true that aggressively arguing balls and strikes is going to result in an ejection.
It is also true that Estabrook did not really do much to defuse that situation and instead escalated it by removing his mask and charging out toward Buehler.
It is also especially true that Estabrook badly missed the call.
This is the type of thing that makes fans (and players) scream and push for an automated strike zone and replay challenges for balls and strikes calls.
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