ST. LOUIS — First baseman Willson Contreras accidentally threw a bat that hit his own coach and tossed gum onto the field after being ejected during the St. Louis Cardinals’ 7-6 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol was also ejected following a heated discussion with the umpires after a called third strike in the seventh inning.
Contreras stated he was unclear about the reason for his ejection.
«I didn’t contest any pitch,» Contreras explained. «All I mentioned was, ‘Make sure the pitches are called evenly because you’re missing a few for us.’ Then, I turned away. The next thing I know, I was thrown out. There’s no justification for it. Apparently, he believed he heard something I said. I did not say that.»
Marmol concurred with his player.
«We will need to investigate to ensure what Willson claims aligns with what occurred,» Marmol stated. «But I trust him.»
Crew chief Jordan Baker informed the pool reporter that Contreras and Marmol were ejected for «using foul language towards [home] plate [umpire] Derek Thomas.»
Contreras started walking toward the dugout after being called out on a pitch that appeared inside the imaginary strike zone shown on the game broadcast.
«I recognized I struck out on a solid pitch,» Contreras acknowledged.
Contreras glanced back at Thomas, who had ejected him. Marmol stepped in to restrain Contreras as he approached the umpire.
Baker indicated that Contreras made contact.
«We will review the footage and what the office provides us, and we will submit it to Major League Baseball and allow them to address that aspect,» Baker said.
Cardinals bench coach Daniel Descalso then took hold of Contreras and guided him away. However, Contreras seemingly threw his bat towards first base umpire Stu Scheurwater, which instead hit Cardinals hitting coach Brant Brown on the arm.
«I apologized to him,» Contreras remarked. «I wasn’t looking back. I just tossed my bat behind me.»
Contreras, who finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs, entered the dugout and threw gum onto the field.
The Cardinals clinched the victory when Alec Burleson hit a solo homer with two outs in the ninth inning.
