ST. LOUIS (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates starter Jonathan Sanchez and manager Clint Hurdle were ejected in the first inning of Friday night’s game with the St. Louis Cardinals after Sanchez hit Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig in the helmet with a pitch.
Sanchez (0-2) allowed back-to-back home runs to Matt Carpenter and Carlos Beltran to start the game. Matt Holiday followed with a single and Sanchez’s next pitch hit Craig in the helmet near his ear.
Home plate umpire Tim Timmons immediately ejected Sanchez, who had thrown just 17 pitches. When Hurdle came out to argue, he also was ejected.
Jeanmar Gomez replaced Sanchez on the mound.