Chicago White Sox pitcher Davis Martin was ejected from Thursday's game against the Cincinnati Reds after throwing at batter Sal Stewart's head, an incident that caused both benches to clear. The Reds ultimately won the game 9-8.
During the third inning, Martin's pitches repeatedly neared Stewart's head. The first pitch sailed high, prompting Stewart to duck. Martin appeared to offer a non-verbal apology, and Stewart responded with a thumbs-up. However, on the subsequent pitch, Stewart was hit in the bill of his helmet. This second incident angered Stewart, who gestured towards Martin.
"I thought that was extremely blatant, and you can’t throw two balls like that head high. You can kill somebody. I thought that was terrible," Reds manager Terry Francona told reporters, according to MLB.com. Stewart described the situation as "just kind of a scary moment."
Martin's control issues were apparent earlier in the game. He hit Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson in the first inning and had several pitches miss the strike zone, going to the backstop. Following the incident with Stewart, umpires convened, and Martin was ejected.
"More than anything, it was just kind of a scary moment," Stewart told reporters. "I’m not sure exactly what happened, but it’s scary when two balls are coming up and in, so that’s all I have to say about it."
The benches clearing was the most significant disruption, though no further physical altercations occurred as umpires restored order. Martin's ejection marked a pivotal moment in a game that saw the Reds secure a narrow victory.