The Dodgers and Angels wrapped up a tense matchup in their so-called Freeway Series, and things heated up in the late innings. With the game close in the eighth, Cody Bellinger stepped up and got a couple of borderline strike calls that didn’t go his way. Both pitches were off the plate, but the ump rang them up anyway. Bellinger was visibly frustrated, dropping a “god dammit” after the first call. Dodgers manager tried to calm the situation, yelling to keep him on the plate, but the next pitch—nearly identical—earned the same result. Bellinger’s reaction didn’t change either.
After the second questionable strike, Bellinger stayed in the box, but the count went full. The pitcher then threw one right down the middle to end the at-bat. Bellinger didn’t hold back, letting the umpire hear it as he walked away. A double play killed the Dodgers’ rally, and Bellinger kept jawing from the dugout. Cameras caught him venting hard, unloading a long, profane rant about how far the pitches were off the plate. Eventually, the umpire had enough and tossed him.
The ejection ended Bellinger’s night and underscored the tension in a tight game that left both teams frustrated. The calls will be debated, but the result stood, and the Dodgers lost a key bat late in a close one.