MLB Umpiring seems to be the gift that keeps on giving. As the St. Louis Cardinals took on the Chicago Cubs at the Wrigley Field, a curious incident incited sheer shock from the fans. With the Cubs batting at the top of the first, the MLB umpires call happened, potentially altering the flow of the game and the sides’ chances at a post-season.
With Ian Happ at the plate and Miles Mikolas on the mound, the game saw an ejection at the top of the first.
Miles Mikolas Ejected from the Game for Pitching at Ian Happ
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With the game in its infancy, at the top of the first, Mikolas took the rock to start against the Cubs. With a 2-0 count, Mikolas threw one low and inside to Happ. Swinging for contact, Happ saw his swing hit Cardinals catcher William Contreras on the backswing on the helmet.
The contact was enough for the Cardinals to opt for ushering Contreras off the pitch and back into the dugout for treatment. But it was what happened next that really seemed to throw the fans.
Ian Happ hit Willson Contreras on a backswing and Contreras was removed from the game
Two pitches later, Miles Mikolas hit Happ with a pitch. Mikolas and Oli Marmol were ejected from the game pic.twitter.com/vP3LgdRn3X
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 28, 2023
After ensuring that his catcher was safe and receiving treatment, Mikolas threw a pitch that caught Happ around the waist. And as the batter was taking first base, the umpires all gathered to discuss what came next.
Surprisingly, the umpires elected to eject Mikolas from the game despite the players all going about business as usual. Despite Happ taking first base with a little issue and Mikolas keen to get going again, the fans, understandably, were not amused.
Fans Surprised at Shocking Ejection
Several fans took to social media to voice just how shocking they believed this decision was despite both players seemingly unaffected by the play and it being so early in the game. With the St. Louis Cardinals chasing an NL Wild Card spot this post-season, the game certainly did little to help their case. And the fans made it known.
Even Cardinals legend Albert Pujols found himself in the thick of things.
Great job of making things worse umps.
— TonyD3942 (@ajd121) July 28, 2023
Umpires overreacted…I’m not a Cards or Cubs fan btw…neutral opinion
— Jason Rogers (@LARogers562) July 28, 2023
So if you hit intentionally someone that did not take care about his swing technique probably causing a serious head injury you're ejected because you're the bad guy, but the other can stay in the game and do the same again.
Come on guys, even the batter knew that was fair
— Jorge Nava (@JorgeNavaAlans) July 28, 2023
Cardinals fans are somehow in disbelief over this, oh well
— JJ (@Boey_Jernal) July 28, 2023
Some fans, though, were questioning Mikolas’ decision to throw at Happ in the first place.
I don’t get it. Clearly Happ was apologetic and it was a mistake. So why do you throw at Happ there???
— Papa J (@papaj1897) July 28, 2023
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Why are Cardinals fans mad, it’s the right call you can’t intentionally hit someone
— Furzzy (@furzzyy) July 28, 2023
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The incident is bound to be controversial. And with the Cardinals chasing a spot in the post-season, perhaps even more so. But how do you see the rest of the season playing out? Do you think the Cardinals have a shot at the post-season? Or is it all wraps for them?
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