Mets Closer Edwin Diaz ejected for foreign resource violation

The New York Mets defeated the Chicago Cubs 5-2 on Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN. With a three-run lead in the bottom of the ninth, the Mets brought in closer Edwin Diaz in a save situation, but he was not allowed to throw a pitch. After warm-ups, the referees decided they didn’t like something about his hands and sent him away.

Diaz appeared to have something on his right hand when a camera zoomed in during the group conversation that took place just before he was ejected. Since the officials gave him his glove back before he left the field, we can assume there was nothing suspicious going on there.

Diaz was replaced by Drew Smith, who probably thought he had a night off just before recording the first two outs of the inning. After Smith gave up a hit, he was replaced by Jake Diekman, who struck out Patrick Wisdom to end the game and get the save.

This is by far the most difficult situation the Mets have found themselves in during the Grimace era.