Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lance Lynn was ejected after a foreign substance check on Wednesday night against the Oakland Athletics, but it’s not due to a reason that has anything to do with foreign substances.
Lynn got frustrated with the umpiring crew during the foreign substance check and tossed his belt toward umpire Nic Lentz from the dugout. The NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports Chicago broadcasts got distant footage of the belt-tossing, which was immediately followed by Lentz ejecting Lynn.
Lance Lynn was ejected from the game after it appeared he tossed his belt toward the umpire during a foreign substance check pic.twitter.com/fcTEsM3iI5
— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) August 19, 2021
Zoomed in on the NBC Sports Chicago footage so you can see the incident better — appears Lance Lynn was tossed after throwing his belt on the field during the substance check 😑
MLB umps need to chill pic.twitter.com/5zxmoOkxGt
— The Rickey Henderson of Blogs (@RickeyBlog) August 19, 2021
White Sox manager Tony La Russa confirmed that Lynn throwing the belt led to the ejection. MLB.com’s Scott Merkin reports that Lynn got to the dugout before the substance check, and placed his glove and hat on the dugout before tossing the belt.
Lynn got ejected for taking his belt and throwing it after he got to the dugout early before being checked: he left his glove and hat on the dugout. "It's that simple." La Russa hopes it's not suspension worthy.
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) August 19, 2021
Lynn has been fantastic for the first-place White Sox this season, with a 2.26 ERA in 123 2/3 innings pitched. He allowed one earned run over four innings in Chicago’s 3-2 victory over the A’s.
Update: After the game, Lynn explained his side of the story: “Obviously, I hurt his feelings.”
Lance Lynn on why he was thrown out of the game:
"He yells at me that he needs to see my belt, so I toss it up and he throws me out… Obviously, I hurt his feelings." pic.twitter.com/rue6MKpa8M
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 19, 2021
[Photo Credit: NBC Sports Bay Area]
