Reds' Joey Votto ejected, could face suspension after bumping umpire
Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto was ejected in the third inning of Wednesday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates and could face a suspension after making contact with an umpire.
Votto struck out against Pirates starter Gerrit Cole in the top of the third of Cincinnati's 3-0 victory and immediately became upset, yelling and throwing his helmet to the ground as he walked toward first base.
Votto then ran back to home plate to confront umpire Chris Conroy and appeared to bump him.
"I feel like as a Major League player, I have a responsibility to be a good example for younger players," Votto said to MLB. "And making contact with an umpire is unacceptable. During this entire thing, that's the one thing I feel very remorseful for. I think it was something that just crossed the line."
Votto had been ejected four times since 2009, but none in the past five years before last night's game.
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Votto is hitting .323 with seven home runs and 17 RBIs in 27 games this season for Cincinnati.
"We'll see how it plays out," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "The whole situation was unfortunate how it unfolded. Joey shouldn't have gone down there and made contact with the umpire. We know that. This was an avoidable situation."
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