Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls lost his mind after being ejected in the middle of an at-bat during Sunday's game against Houston for tapping his helmet.
It happened as Walls came up with one out and nobody on with the Astros leading 1-0. Walls had come into the game as a pinch runner in the seventh inning, so it was his first at-bat of the game. Astros reliever Josh Hader threw a pitch that appeared to be low and outside. Walls took the pitch thinking it was a ball, but home plate umpire Nic Lentz called the ball a strike.
Walls did not like the call and had a comment for Lentz as he stepped out of the batter's box to regroup. As he stepped back in, he took a look at Lentz and tapped his helmet a couple of times. Before Hader could throw his next pitch, Lentz stepped in front of Walls and notified him that he was being ejected, apparently feeling that Walls tapping his helmet was disrespectful. Walls quickly went from being surprised and confused to becoming apoplectic.
Taylor Walls was ejected from the game after tapping his helmet.
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While Rays manager Kevin Cash tried to get an explanation from Lentz, Walls had to be held back by umpires and Rays coaches as he charged at Lentz several times before being directed back to the dugout.
We have seen players ejected for arguing strike three calls, but have never seen a player ejected for arguing strike one. As far as the aftermath, Walls may need to take some anger management training.
Christopher Morel was sent in to finish Walls' at-bat, but struck out swinging. The Rays went down 1-2-3 in the ninth, and the Astros won the game 1-0 to split the four-game series.
Moonlighting as a blogger to pursue my interest and enjoyment of sports. Former high school and Division I athlete (now a "retired" family man) that loves watching and discussing all sports. Follow me on Twitter (@HoldoutSports) and like Holdout Sports on Facebook.
