Wood ejected for arguing balls and strikes

Braves starter Alex Wood was ejected after arguing balls and strikes in the middle of the fifth inning of Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Turner Field. Wood walked pitcher Gerrit Cole with one out in the top of the fifth on a close 3-2 pitch, starting a Pittsburgh rally that saw three runs come in.

Emotions had already been riding high. Wood hit Starling Marte with a pitch in the first inning. Then Cole hit Freddie Freeman in the knee in the third inning and plunked Andrelton Simmons in the shoulder the next inning. Simmons stared down Cole as he walked to first, and Pittsburgh catcher Chris Stewart walked alongside Simmons halfway to first to prevent any confrontation.

Cole nearly hit Jace Peterson in the knee in the bottom of the fifth, drawing a shower of boos from the crowd at Turner Field. There was a never a warning from the umpire.

Cody Martin replaced Wood in the sixth.

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Matthew Bain

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