We've already seen some pretty quirky MLB happenings in 2020 — Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg getting the heave-ho from the Citi Field stands and loose cannon ump Joe West stopping a game to boot Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo from the upper deck, to name a couple. But a charged sequence between Twins slugger Josh Donaldson and home plate umpire Dan Bellino fat Guaranteed Rate Field on Thursday afternoon may top them all.
Here's Josh Donaldson getting tossed after hitting a go-ahead homer. (NBCSCH) pic.twitter.com/gURfqyIUKM
— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) September 17, 2020
It's not often you see a player get tossed immediately following a home run, but Donaldson managed to do exactly that, getting rung up mere moments after clocking a leadoff solo blast to give Minnesota a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning. Still fuming from a questionable called strike earlier in his at-bat against White Sox right-hander Reynaldo Lopez, Donaldson couldn't let it go, punctuating his trip around the bases with a parting shot for Bellino and kicking up a cloud of dirt at home plate. Not at all amused by Donaldson's antics, Bellino chucked the veteran Donaldson without a second thought. The conflict escalated so quickly, NBC Sports Chicago only caught part of the interaction on camera.
With Donaldson off to the showers, utilityman Ehire Adrianza replaced him. Donaldson, who has largely disappointed in his Twins debut this year (.215 average, 5 homers and 10 RBIs in 65 at-bats), went 1-for-3 prior to his ejection.
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