John Matthews
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON — 37,648 people paid to see Bryce Harper and the Nationals face the ever-popular New York Yankees Wednesday night. What they got instead was a brief show of an umpire asserting his authority, and showing the exit to both Harper and Nats manager Matt Williams.
Harper was ejected in the third inning after questioning umpire Marvin Hudson’s strike call on a ball that appeared to be low. After Williams interjected from the dugout, Hudson stopped play, and ended up tossing both Harper and Williams, who received an approving roar from the crowd when he kicked dirt onto home plate before leaving the field.
After the game, Harper was still clearly upset.
“I don’t think 40,000 people came to watch him ump tonight. Plain and simple. Plain and simple. I mean, I really don’t think they did. Especially when we’re playing the Yankees. The Yankees are a good team, we’re a good team and we’re rolling. And, I mean, the way I’m hitting, I don’t want to get tossed. I don’t think I really did anything bad to get tossed. But maybe he just had a bad morning. Maybe he didn’t get his coffee.”
Hudson said he had no choice but to take action.
“He didn’t like the pitch, and I let him have his say, going and coming,” Hudson said. “The dugout didn’t like it, and one thing led to another and I had to run him. I had to eject him.”
What do you think? Watch the video and decide for yourself.
The Nationals did enjoy the last laugh. They beat the Yankees, 3 – 2 for their fifth straight win, and took sole control of first place in the National League East as the Mets were crushed by St. Louis, 9 – 0.
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