NEW YORK — Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper was ejected for arguing with first-base umpire Roberto Ortiz over a fair-foul call on Saturday in a game against the New York Mets.
Harper ripped a first-pitch curveball from starter Seth Lugo down the first-base line in the fifth inning. Ortiz ruled that the ball was foul, and Harper put his hands on his head as he glared down the line before resuming the at-bat at Citi Field.
After grounding to third for the final out of the inning, Harper began arguing with Ortiz. Phillies second baseman Neil Walker tried to restrain Harper, and Ortiz warned Philadelphia’s $330 million slugger multiple times to stop before signaling his ejection.
Harper then got in Ortiz’s face and began yelling at the 35-year-old umpire — an apparent violation of Major League Baseball’s safety protocols for this pandemic-shortened season. Walker and first-base coach Paco Figueroa tried to hold Harper back, and manager Joe Girardi came out to help usher Harper off the field.
Harper might have been frustrated by a miscue in the field an inning earlier.
Mets veteran Todd Frazier scored from third on Andres Gimenez‘s popup in shallow right field. Harper looked on as Walker caught the ball on his heels and delivered an off-balanced, wild throw home that let Frazier score easily.
Walker shook his head at Harper after the play and appeared to explain to teammates in the dugout during the fifth inning that he was waiting for Harper to call him off the ball.