During Monday night’s game at Petco Park, Carlos Mendoza took a stand to protect Juan Soto, the New York Mets’ key player, from being ejected after a series of frustrating umpire calls. Mendoza’s intervention occurred in the third inning, as Soto’s visible anger following a controversial called third strike threatened to escalate further, pushing Mendoza to confront the home plate umpire and absorb the penalty himself.

Escalation During Juan Soto’s At-Bat Sparks Controversy

The tension intensified during Soto’s following plate appearance, with a runner on second and one out. Pitcher Dylan Cease threw a 2-1 pitch that appeared clearly outside the strike zone but was ruled a strike by umpire Emil Jimenez. Soto’s reaction was immediate and intense, vocally disputing the call before attempting to regain focus. The dispute culminated when Jimenez called strike three on the eighth pitch, prompting Soto to directly confront the umpire in frustration.

Mendoza’s Intervention Ends in His Own Ejection

Anticipating the confrontation would escalate, Mendoza charged from the dugout, positioning himself between Soto and Jimenez. He firmly directed Soto away from the umpire and took over the argument, effectively protecting his player but resulting in Mendoza’s ejection from the game. With Mendoza removed, bench coach John Gibbons assumed managerial duties for the remainder of the contest.

Manager’s Ejection Highlights Ongoing Frustrations This Season

This incident marked Mendoza’s third ejection of the current season and the fifth of his managerial career, signaling persistent challenges with umpiring decisions. Despite the repeated expulsions, this particular ejection reflects a deliberate choice to shield his player from disciplinary action, even at the cost of his own removal.

The frequent ejections suggest increasing strain between Mendoza and game officials, raising questions about what changes may be needed to reduce such confrontations going forward. Mendoza’s sacrifice underscores the often intense and emotional battles within professional baseball, where managers sometimes take the fall to safeguard their players.