Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco, who pitched a no-hitter earlier this season, was ejected from Tuesday night’s game against the Oakland Athletics after undergoing a foreign body test.
First base umpire Erich Backus described what he felt inside Blanco’s glove, which led to his ejection.
“I felt something in my glove,” Backus said. “It was the stickiest feeling I’ve had in a glove since I’ve been doing this for several years.”
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Astros starting pitcher Ronnel Blanco will face the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
After the remaining umpires’ calls, it was third base umpire Laz Diaz who gave the toss to Blanco. They, along with Blanco and Astros manager Joe Espada, discussed the issue before the right-handed pitcher was thrown. Swing gloves were also confiscated.
“Everyone checked their gloves to make sure they all had the same thing, and he was sent off because he had a foreign object in his glove,” Diaz said.
Through an interpreter, Blanco denied using illegal drugs.
“Probably because of the pine resin I put on my left arm,” he added. “Perhaps sweat got into the glove and that’s why it was discovered.”
Ronel Blanco was ejected in the fourth inning of a game against the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas on May 14, 2024, when he was walked by Joe Espada of the Astros. (Logan Riley/Getty Images)
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He allowed four hits and struck out one batter before being ejected.
The Astros won 2-1 on Victor Caratini’s RBI in the 10th inning.
Major League Baseball cracked down on foreign bodies in 2021, simply because pitchers were too dominant against sticky foreign bodies. These substances are used to increase the amount of spin, which increases the break of the ball and leads to a decrease in offensive power.
Blanco has been a diamond in the rough for the Astros this season. Tuesday marked his 15th start and 32nd appearance in the majors. However, he pitched a no-hitter in his first start of the season earlier this year and has an impressive ERA of 2.08.
Astros starting pitcher Ronnel Blanco is ejected for a foreign body test and leaves the field during a game against the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
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He was the sixth pitcher to be ejected due to a foreign object since the crackdown. He will likely receive a 10-game suspension.
FOX News’ Ryan Mollick contributed to this report.
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