Pirates SP Sanchez ejected for hitting Cardinals' Craig in head

Pirates starter Jonathan Sanchez was tossed after hitting St. Louis' Allen Craig in the head with a pitch.

Jeff Roberson/AP

ST. LOUIS -- 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.

Hitting coach Jay Bell became the third member of the Pittsburgh Pirates to be kicked out when he was ejected in the top of the fifth inning for arguing with Timmons. Bell became irate when Pirates lead-off man Starling Marte was hit for the second time by Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn.