Diamondbacks relief pitcher Evan Marshall ejected from game after hitting Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun
Jun 18, 2014, 3:39 AM | Updated: 3:29 pm
Evan Marshall was ejected in the seventh inning of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ game against the Milwaukee Brewers after hitting much-maligned outfielder Ryan Braun with a 95-mph fastball.
Prior to the ejection, home plate umpire Ted Barrett visited Marshall on the mound after he threw a 94-mph fastball that tailed behind Braun. His next pitch struck Braun in the backside and Barrett threw Marshall out of the game.
Both benches were issued warnings.
“Gameplan there (with) guys in scoring position, we’re trying to create some soft contact,” Marshall said after the game. “My best stuff is to work sink down (and) in. The ball got away. I got him. That’s just what happened.”
The 24-year-old was given a standing ovation by the Chase Field crowd as he exited toward the dugout. There, he was greeted on the top step by manager Kirk Gibson who bumped fists with Marshall. The rest of the Diamondbacks team followed suit as Marshall made his way through the dugout. The reception was unanimous in nature.
“They just were able to recognize that I was going out there and trying to get guys out and perform for my team,” Marshall said.
Braun’s hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for the Jonathan Lucroy. He already had a home run on the evening and he added another on a grand slam on the Brad Ziegler offering which directly proceeded the incident.
“I think the at-bat that (Lucroy) had was the best at-bat I’ve ever seen,” Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said after the game.
During the bottom half of the previous inning, Diamondbacks shortstop Chris Owings was hit in the back of the helmet by Brewers pitcher Kyle Lohse. Second baseman Didi Gregorius was also hit by Lohse in the opening frame.
Prior to Tuesday’s game, Gibson was asked by Burns and Gambo on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM about retaliation tactics as it relates to Braun, who was scandalized by his use of steroids in seasons past.
“What we talk about and what we execute and what decisions we make, we’ll keep to ourselves,” he said, after laughing at the question.
On Monday, Gerardo Parra was hit by a Wily Peralta pitch in the seventh inning of the Diamondbacks’ 9-3 loss to the Brewers.
“You just can’t drill a guy like that but I think with Parra and the way he got hit, that was curious,” he went on.
The Diamondbacks eventually lost, 7-5, though scoring a run and getting three men on base in the ninth inning.
“Honestly, I don’t think there was any intention in anybody’s part,” Gibson said after the game. “I think we were playing the game. It was a good, clean game. They beat us again. That’s disappointing.”
Arizona Sports’ Craig Grialou contributed to this report
