A foreign substance check midway through Friday’s Yankees-Reds game led to an ejection for Reds manager David Bell after he fiercely protested the umpiring crew’s handling of the situation.
With the Yankees leading 1–0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt briefly exited the game after meeting with all four umpires on his trot to the mound. Schmidt’s glove and right hand were thoroughly examined before he was instructed to head to the visitor’s dugout to wash his hands.
During the break, Bell and Yankees manager Aaron Boone walked out to speak with the umpires in search of an explanation. Schmidt, who pitched four scoreless innings prior to the check, eventually emerged from the dugout and underwent another quick check by home-plate umpire Brian O’Nora before being cleared to return.
