Bryce Harper was not on the best of terms with home plate umpire Alex Tosi on Friday night.
The Phillies slugger found himself ejected in the third inning of Philadelphia’s 5-4 win over the Cardinals after he flung both his helmet and bat after striking out.
Harper recorded an RBI groundout in the first inning before coming back up in the third against St. Louis lefty Zack Thompson.
After getting ahead in the count 2-1, Harper took a fastball high, that appeared above the zone but was called a strike by Tosi.
On the next pitch, Thompson got off a looping, 75.6 mph curveball that Harper took a big hack at but whiffed on.
Harper then flung his back toward the third base dugout and then fired his helmet in the same direction.
Tosi must’ve taken exception to the throwing and tossed Harper from the game.
The two-time MVP was incensed and started jawing at the umpire, who did not renege on his ejection.
Harper was restrained by first base coach Paco Figueroa and, before long, he left the game.
Edmundo Sosa came into the game to replace Harper, while Alec Bohm moved over from third to first base.
The Phillies hung on for the win despite his long absence.
Harper’s hitting .293 with an .879 OPS this year with 17 homers.
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