fbpx

Dodgers News: Justin Turner Ejected By Home-Plate Umpire Chad Fairchild For Arguing Balls & Strikes During Rockies Game

Matthew Moreno
2 Min Read
Harry How-Getty Images

Justin Turner was ejected by home-plate umpire Chad Fairchild during the fourth inning of the series opener between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies. It was Turner’s fourth career ejection, all of which have come with the Dodgers.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts immediately sprinted out of the dugout in protest but to no avail. The ejection came midway through Max Muncy’s at-bat, which included a called strike on a similarly borderline pitch.

Turner was standing alongside the Dodgers hitting coaches in his usual spot in the dugout when he was tossed. He had taken issue with a pitch that appeared off the plate being called for strike.

Turner grounded out one pitch after having what appeared to be a cordial conversation with Fairchild. Even with some frustration, all indications were the veteran umpire had a quick hook.

Turner flied out in his first at-bat of the game. Both pitches he saw were over the heart of the plate.

Prior to Friday, Turner’s last ejection came in September 2017, when Fairchild threw Turner out of a game, also at Dodger Stadium. In his postgame interview Turner maintained Fairchild called a pitch out of the zone for strike but regretted getting ejected.

With Turner out of the game, the Dodgers inserted Kiké Hernandez at second base and moved Max Muncy over to third. A roster move earlier in the day to recall Matt Beaty again gave them a four-man bench after they opted for nine relief pitchers in the series finale against the San Francisco Giants.

Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com