During the bottom of the seventh inning in Tuesday night’s game at Citizens Bank Park, benches cleared after Mets relief pitcher Hansel Robles quick-pitched the Phillies pinch-hitter Darin Ruf while his head was turned away and down. He eventually struck out.
Jeff Francoeur began hurling f-bombs towards Robles as Larry Bowa charged out of the dugout to give home plate umpire Dan Bellino an ear-full. He was subsequently ejected.
“Let the fucking guy step in the box. That’s all I ask. That’s my whole thing. Ruffy had one foot in the box. That’s chicken shit.”
After the game, Travis d’Arnaud said he was trying to tell Robles to wait because Ruf’s head was down and he thought it was potentially dangerous.
“I just know the guy’s head was down,” d’Arnaud said. “I think the rule is you can’t throw it until at least they’re looking at him. So I was telling him to wait. He threw it. You never know what could happen in that situation when you’re looking down and something like that happens.” (ESPN New York)
Terry Collins had no desire to address the subject.
This was the second incident this month involving Hansel Robles quick-pitching a batter.
