(670 The Score) Frustration, an umpire's slow walk and a foreign substance check led to an early exit for White Sox ace Lance Lynn in his team’s 3-2 win against the Athletics at Guaranteed Rate Field on Wednesday evening.
Lynn was ejected by third-base umpire Nic Lentz after the completion of the top of the fourth inning. The incident occurred after Lentz had strolled over to the White Sox’s dugout to conduct a routine foreign substance check after Lynn made it back there before the umpiring crew checked him on the field.
Having a stressful-yet-effective evening on the mound, Lynn left his glove and hat on the railing for Lentz to check, but he then threw his belt in the direction of Lentz. Lynn confirmed he was ejected for that act.
Television cameras didn’t capture a quality angle of the scene during the commercial break, other than a grainy shot from far away.
“I was coming off the mound,” Lynn said. “He was late getting over, so I left my glove and my hat. And then I was going down in the dugout trying to see the trainers because I’m dealing with something (health-wise). He yells at me that he needs to see my belt, so I tossed it up and then he throws me out.”
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While not outwardly expressing anger in his postgame interview, Lynn was clearly surly about the situation.
“No, he’s late getting over there,” Lynn responded when asked if he was surprised by the ejection. “And then I’m trying to get some work done to go back out for the fifth. Obviously, I hurt his feelings.”
Did the umpires listen to Lynn’s explanation that he was in a hurry to get checked by a trainer?
“No, they don’t care,” Lynn said. “He threw me out because I tossed my belt. And I said, ‘If you were over here on time, we wouldn’t have this problem.’”
Manager Tony La Russa was hopeful that Lynn won’t be suspended for his actions, though he admitted he wasn’t sure what would happen.
“If you’re not emotional in this game, you’re not very good,” La Russa said. “He was emotional. I don’t know. I can’t speak for the umpires and the league.”
Lynn had a hard night of work, working in and out of jams early, including a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the third inning without being harmed for a run. In four innings, Lynn allowed one run on three hits and three walks while striking out four. He threw 88 pitches.
"I felt completely miserable," Lynn said. "But when you get out of that and only give up one run and we win, that's what it's all about. I wish I could've gone deeper, but I didn't get that opportunity. It was taken from me."