CHICAGO -- It's seemingly impossible to get ejected after a game has concluded, but White Sox leadoff man Adam Eaton managed to pull off that feat in a 4-1 loss to the Royals on Friday night at U.S. Cellular Field.
Eaton took a called third strike from closer Wade Davis and had a few words for home-plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt. At that point, Wendelstedt turned toward the official scorer and indicated an ejection.
"Really anti-climactic, to be honest with you," Eaton said. "But it is what it is. I think he understands my frustrations. Umpiring is very difficult. I understand that, I really do. But when you strike balls with such conviction, I have a problem with it."
The problem for Eaton began in the seventh inning when he took a first-pitch strike from reliever Joakim Soria that he didn't feel was in the zone. Wendelstedt told Eaton to go look at it.
"At the end of the game, I told him I looked at it, and it wasn't a strike, either," Eaton said. "The inconsistencies are tough to deal with as a hitter. Hitting is hard enough as it is, and when you have those inconsistencies, it makes it even more [difficult] -- especially Wade Davis throwing 95-plus.
"It's tough when you strike out and you only saw one strike, and you didn't take the bat off your shoulder. It's pretty tough to hit like that. Most guys didn't like the inconsistency all night. I think I know the zone pretty well.
"Very difficult," Eaton added. "He heard my displeasures. But new day tomorrow. Those guys have got a job to do and we do, too, so we'll get back at it. He threw me out. Part of the game."