Phillies pitcher Matt Strahm had no idea he was ejected after his national anthem standoff with Red Sox pitcher Kutter Crawford.
After the national anthem concluded before Saturday’s Phillies-Red Sox game in Philadelphia, the two remained in front of their respective dugouts, each player hoping to be the last one standing before first pitch.
But because both were determined to win the friendly competition and were still on the field right before the game was set to start, they were tossed from the game.
“I didn’t even realize I was thrown out, either,” Strahm told WEEI. “The first base umpire [Charlie Ramos] came over to me and said, ‘you’ve got to get going.’ And all I said was, ‘OK, well, it’s our home field so he should go first, right?’ And then he said, ‘OK.’ And then when I looked over Kutter was leaving, and I walked down the steps and then they told me I was thrown out.”
Strahm, 31, clarified he was told by Phillies manager Rob Thomson that he was ejected and that he never received a warning.
“I guess I should’ve known better with how strict they are with the pitch clock,” Strahm said. “Lesson learned. … Embarrassing moment, learn from it, move on.”
Strahm and the 27-year-old Crawford, who is currently on the IL with a hamstring strain, were teammates on the Red Sox last season.
“Zero of it was planned,” Strahm said. “Anthem was over, I looked across and Kutter kind of gave me a grin and I knew exactly what that grin meant. So, just stood there.
“I’ve never done anything like that in my life, but it’s something — if you know me, you know competition is everything to me, so kind of felt like I was being called out right there. Looking back on it, probably not the wisest decision I’ve made in my big-league career.”
The Phillie Phanatic got involved, flashing its hand in front of Crawford’s face and rubbing his head to try to get him off the field.
The two pitchers were reportedly fined for their behavior.
Strahm’s previous six appearances had been as a starter before he returned to a bullpen role on Sunday, earning a two-inning save in the Phillies’ 6-1 win.