Another day, another Angel Hernandez debacle.
MLB’s worst umpire struck again Wednesday night for the second time of the Indians-Royals series, ejecting three members of the Royals in a single inning. Hernandez had already blown a call the night before, when he guessed on a play that had to be overturned because he was “blinded by the outfield scoreboard.”
In the top of the sixth of the Indians’ 5-4 win Wednesday, Kansas City manager Mike Matheny and pitching coach Cal Eldred were ejected after Hernandez called a balk on an attempted pick-off at second base. Matheny came right out of the dugout to have words with Hernandez, who then must’ve heard a comment from Eldred and threw him out immediately.
Eldred was furious and both coaches came out to confront Hernandez, with Matheny having to hold Eldred back from getting in the historically bad umpire’s face. Matheny was sent to the showers but continued to berate Hernandez.
After things calmed down a bit, acting manager Pedro Grifol came out to the mound to remove starting pitcher Brady Singer. On his way to the dugout, Singer briefly got in Hernandez’s face and presumably let him know what they thought of his performance, which led to a third ejection.
“I’m out there fighting for the team,” Singer told reporters after the game. “It’s a big game. We’re trying to get back in the series. And you’ve got that stuff going on. I’m fighting for the guys. I’m trying to get the win. You’ve got other factors into the game. It sucks. I’m busting like hell to try to win the game and stuff like that happens. Kinda how it is. I guess.”
