Three MLB players, including Angels reliever Brent Suter, were ejected before the first pitch Saturday in a game involving Los Angeles and the Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla.
In a strange scene, Suter and Tampa Bay pitchers Steven Wilson and Manuel Rodriguez were tossed by third base umpire Lance Barrett over what looked like a “standoff” after the national anthem was played.
Instead of heading back to the dugout, Suter remained standing after “The Star-Spangled Banner” ended. Wilson and Rodriguez also remained standing and were joined by two of the Florida team’s mascots.
The standoff is a competition between players to be the last one to leave the field after the anthem concludes.
As Angels leadoff batter Zach Neto was in the batter’s box, waiting for the first offering from Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen, the players — all pitchers — remained standing by their dugouts.
Barrett, the umpire, decided he had seen enough and ejected the players.
Suter pitched the day before for the Angels, so he likely wouldn’t have been called upon Saturday. The Rays pitchers haven’t played all season due to injuries.
The Angels (23-36) entered Sunday’s series finale against the Rays with one of the worst records this season.