Phillies manager Rob Thomson was ejected in the fourth inning of Saturday’s 17-7 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers by second base umpire Dan Iassogna.
Thomson took issue with a balk call on starter Jesús Luzardo. The Phillies left-hander had already allowed a season-high five runs to the Brewers before the call. With Caleb Durbin at first base, Luzardo threw over to Alec Bohm as Durbin broke for second. Bohm’s throw to Bryson Stott beat Durbin to the bag, and he was initially called out by Iassogna.
Third base umpire Derek Thomas then called a balk on Luzardo’s initial pick off, awarding Durbin second base.
“The third base umpire called it,” Thomson said. “His explanation to me was that at the top of his leg lift, he stopped. That’s the first time I’ve ever heard that. So that’s why he called the balk. My question to him was, ‘Well, why didn’t the umpire at first base call it?’”
Luzardo said postgame he was also frustrated that the third base umpire had made the call.
Phillies pitcher Jesus Luzardo throws the baseball in the first inning.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Brewers Rhys Hoskins (right) celebrates his first inning three run home run with teammate Christian Yelich past Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Phillies pitcher Jesus Luzardo reacts after Brewers Rhys Hoskins’ hit a first inning three run home run.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos attempts to catch Brewers Sal Frelick’s fly ball double as center fielder Brandon Marsh looks on during the fourth inning.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Phillies manager Rob Thomson gets ejected by umpire Dan Iassogna in the fourth inning. Thomson was arguing a balk call on Phillies pitcher Jesus Luzardo.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Phillies pitcher Jesus Luzardo wipes his face leaving the field after getting replaced in the fourth inning.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Milwaukee Brewers Rhys Hoskins pumps his fist after hitting a fourth inning three run home run.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Phillies pitcher Tanner Banks throws the baseball against Brewers Rhys Hoskins in the seventh inning.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber hits a sixth inning RBI double.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Phillies position player Weston Wilson throws a eighth inning pitch.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Phillies position player Weston Wilson laughs after catching Milwaukee Brewers Rhys Hoskins’ ninth inning pop-up with teammate first baseman Alec Bohm. Wilson pitched in the eighth and ninth inning.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Phillies position player Weston Wilson laughs after inducing a ground ball out to Brewers Sal Frelick to end the night inning. Wilson pitched in ninth inning and covered first base on Frelick’s ground ball.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Phillies Johan Rojas hits a two RBI ninth inning triple.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Phillies Brandon Marsh hits a ninth inning two run home run.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
“I’ve done this my whole career, since 2019 I’ve never been called the balk on it,” he said. “ … I thought I gained ground, even though I fell towards the plate, and always kept my body moving, even though it’s slow. But basically, I got a couple of different answers, and that’s what frustrated me the most, saying that I stopped at the top of my delivery, which I didn’t.”
It marked Thomson’s first ejection of the season and fifth since becoming Phillies manager in 2022. Luzardo went on to allow eight total runs in the fourth inning and was lifted for Joe Ross.
