New York Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake was ejected during Wednesday night’s game against the Oakland Athletics after arguing ball and strike calls from the dugout.
What Happened
The ejection took place in the third inning when home plate umpire Carlos Torres called a pitch from Will Warren a ball. The fastball to Nick Kurtz appeared to be just inside, pushing the count to 2-0.
Blake reacted from the Yankees’ dugout, clearly disagreeing with the call. His argument quickly escalated, leading Torres to eject him from the game.
Game Situation at the Time
At the time of the incident:
- The Yankees were leading 2-0
- The team still had both of its ABS (Automated Ball-Strike) challenges available
- The ejection came relatively early in the game, adding tension to the matchup
Blake’s History of Ejections
This marks Blake’s seventh ejection since joining the Yankees in 2020. While not extremely common for a pitching coach, it shows his active involvement in defending his pitchers during games.
Why It Matters
Ejections like this often reflect growing frustration over strike zone consistency. With systems like ABS challenges now available, disagreements over calls are becoming more noticeable, especially when teams choose not to challenge but still strongly disagree.
