Braves SP Chris Sale gets tossed before Sunday's series finale vs. Yankees, still arguing controversial balk call

Four umpires were walking to the plate ahead of Sunday's series finale between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Yankees.

On their journey, Dan Merzel stepped back, pointed toward someone in the Braves' dugout and tossed them from the game before it even got underway.

It was Atlanta starting pitcher Chris Sale, who was ejected from the game. He pitched Saturday, so he wasn't playing Sunday, but was apparently chirping the umpire crew about a controversial balk call from his start on Saturday that he did not agree with.

Sale was called for a balk in the bottom of the fifth inning on Saturday by Merzel, who was behind home plate. The game was tied 2-2, but because New York had a runner on third, the balk forced the runner to the plate for a Yankees lead.

The Braves' starter was livid at the call, and manager Walt Weiss came out to defend his pitcher against the umpire, and it resulted in Weiss getting tossed on Saturday night. Sale continued to argue his case even after Weiss was ejected to any umpire who would listen.

Sale was then seen on the Atlanta's BravesVision broadcast talking to Sunday's home plate umpire Dan Bellino, presumably still arguing his case against Saturday's call by Merzel, before he went up the tunnel.

Despite his arguing on Saturday, Sale stayed in the game. He got out of the fifth inning and then pitched a scoreless sixth before he was pulled from the game.

The Braves went on to lose the game 5-4. Sale took the loss and moved to 12-7 on the season. He pitched six innings Saturday and allowed three earned runs on five hits. Sale struck out eight and walked two.