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Phillies’ Castellanos Slams Rays’ Uceta After Ejection

PHILADELPHIA — Tampa Bay Rays reliever Edwin Uceta was ejected from the team Tuesday night as it lost 9-4 to the Philadelphia Phillies after hitting Nick Castellanos with a pitch.

Castellanos, for his part, said he knew it was coming.

Uceta gave up a tiebreaking two-run double to pinch-hitter Cal Stevenson in the eighth inning, then gave up an RBI single to Buddy Kennedy, a two-run homerun to Trea Turner and a double to Bryce Harper before Castellanos came to bat.

Uceta’s ball struck the Phillies slugger’s hip, emptying both benches and bullpens and sending players into a frenzy on the field.

“I had this overwhelming feeling that I was about to get drilled,” Castellanos said. “We all got a sense of what it was — he was just (angry) that he was getting hit everywhere and his ERA went through the roof.”

Uceta, who entered the game with a 0.79 ERA, said it wasn’t a purpose pitch and claimed it was a changeup; MLB’s StatCast said it was a 96 mph sinker.

However, the Phillies didn’t believe him.

“You’re frustrated and you’re going to throw it at someone,” he said. “That’s like my 2-year-old throwing a tantrum because I took his dessert away before he was done.”

Harper said what happened has no place in baseball.

“That’s not the game we play, man,” he said. “It shouldn’t be. Guys throw too hard these days. You get mad because a guy hits a home run off you or you blow the lead, let the guy walk and get out of the game.

“The situation, the whole thing, really made me angry, really upset me. Just not something that you should accept as Major League Baseball.”

Harper quickly walked to the mound and yelled at the Rays pitcher after it happened. He said he saved himself from a physical confrontation because Uceta never turned to look at him.

“I didn’t want to be a loser and come after him,” Harper said. “If he turns around, then it’s okay, let’s go.”

Harper hit three doubles in one game for the third time in his career, marking the first time since August 2021.

This report used information from The Associated Press.