The Subway Series between the New York Mets and New York Yankees is underway at Citi Field, with Game 1 of the two-game set taking place Tuesday. As usual, with MLB’s two biggest payrolls going toe-to-toe, some form of drama was set to unfold.
In a high-scoring bout, both teams had to turn to their bullpens much earlier than anticipated. Luis Severino made it through just 4.2 innings, allowing five runs before getting pulled. But Mets starter Max Scherzer didn’t fare any better. He allowed six runs through just 3.1 innings before being yanked.
Both bullpens then tightened up, making it through at least an inning on each side without a run touching home plate. Yet, apparently, one member of the Mets’ bullpen took things too far, seeking an unfair advantage with the Mets trailing the Yankees 7-6.
Righthanded relief pitcher Drew Smith was called upon to handle the top of the seventh inning, but he didn’t even get one pitch across the plate before the umpires drew attention to the situation on the mound.
It didn’t take long for Smith to be ejected after a ‘sticky substance’ check. Needless to say, the 29-year-old wasn’t thrilled about the situation, making a scene while storming off the mound in Queens. It looks like Smith even tried to plead his case to any poor soul who would spare him the time of day, to no avail.
Usually, in cases like this, we see a 10-game suspension following an ejection for using a sticky substance. If he’s unhappy about missing one game, wait until he learns there could be 10 more on the way.
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