Kevin Pillar got tossed in the bottom of the eighth after a frustrating at-bat loaded with questionable strike calls. The first pitch looked high, and a replay showed the opposing pitcher slipped during his delivery. Despite that, the umpire called it a strike, which didn’t sit well with Pillar or manager Bruce Bochy. The next two pitches also sparked frustration, especially a borderline pitch at the top of the zone that went against Pillar again.
Pillar fouled one off and then grounded out to end the inning. As he jogged off, he made a comment to the umpire, tossed the ball behind him, and got ejected. It was a quick-trigger toss with clear emotions behind it. Pillar didn’t go quietly either. He walked back toward the ump, clearly ready to argue more, but teammates jumped in to hold him back. It looked more like a nightclub security scene than a baseball field, with Pillar furious and teammates playing peacekeepers.
The tension highlighted just how tight things are for the team during this late-season run. One bad call can flip momentum, and Pillar wasn’t interested in swallowing it. Instead, he aired it out and got sent packing for it.