Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Madison Bumgarner was ejected Wednesday right after his hand was checked for a foreign substance.
Bumgarner gave up a leadoff homer to Jon Berti in the first inning at Miami, and then retired the next three batters. As he was walking to the dugout, the veteran left-hander gestured with his arm before holding his hand out for first base umpire Dan Bellino to take a look.
Bumgarner said something to Bellino as the check was ending, and the umpire threw him out. Bumgarner then started yelling at Bellino and had to be restrained by some coaches.
Madison Bumgarner has been ejected. Lots happening here. 🧐 pic.twitter.com/SGl0tZIQZM
— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) May 4, 2022
The ejection did not appear to be due to any foreign substance on Bumgarner’s hand, but the subsequent altercation with Bellino. Diamondbacks executive and former major league right-hander Dan Haren was quick to the pitcher’s defense, saying the umpire instigated Bumgarner.
“Was completely instigated by Dan Bellino, was staring at Bum until he looked at Bellino in the eyes,” Haren tweeted. “Wanted to throw him out. He was targeted, Bellino needs to be disciplined. Complete BS.”
Bumgarner was replaced by right-hander Corbin Martin at the start of the second inning. It was his second career ejection. He also was thrown out on 11 June 2018, for arguing balls and strikes.
The 32-year-old Bumgarner is 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA in six starts this season, his third since joining the Diamondbacks after a 11-year stint with the San Francisco Giants.
