Boston Red Sox pitcher Walker Buehler returned from the injured list Tuesday night to face the New York Mets. But his first start in nearly a month was even shorter than expected when he was ejected by home plate umpire Mike Estabrook in the top of the third inning.
The confrontation began simmering one batter earlier when Mets batter Francisco Lindor made little effort to avoid getting hit with a pitch.
With Juan Soto at the plate, Lindor took off for second base, sliding in safely ahead of the tag. Red Sox catcher Omar Narvaez had to jump out of his crouch to get in position to make the throw to second − possibly distracting Estabrook, who called the pitch squarely inside the strike zone a ball.
When Buehler began complaining, Estabrook gave him the quick heave-ho.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora quickly came out to argue, but by then Buehler had already gotten the rest of his day off.
Although the game was scoreless at the time, Narvaez and Rafael Devers later hit solo home runs to give Boston a 2-0 victory.
In his first year with the Red Sox after spending his first eight MLB seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Buehler has a 4-1 record and 4.00 ERA in seven starts. He went on the injured list May 2 with shoulder inflammation, but returned to the active roster this week.