Fan Ejected From Phillies’ 13-8 Home Win Over Giants After Confrontation With Umpire

A fan attending the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday night was ejected in the sixth inning following a verbal confrontation with plate umpire Bob Davidson.

Fan Ejected From Phillies’ 13-8 Home Win Over Giants After Confrontation With Umpire

The Phillies won 13-8 after scoring five eighth-inning runs, including a two-run single from Aaron Altherr, who matched a career high with five RBIs.

Davidson stopped the game in the middle of an at-bat in the sixth, angrily walked toward where the fan was sitting and exchanged word with him after the man began yelling loudly in the umpire’s direction. Davidson could be heard yelling, “Get that guy out of here.”

The fan, who had been screaming sexually suggestive comments at Davidson through most of the sixth inning, was sitting 15 rows from the field behind the visitors’ dugout. His words could be heard from the pressbox, and the Phillies said the fan left of his own accord after he was approached because Davidson complained to team security about the fan’s language.

“You could have your wife, girlfriend, kids — they buy tickets,” Davidson said. “They don’t have to come here and listen to that. That’s exactly what he said to throw him out. There was kids there and young girls there.”

Fans applauded Davidson for his efforts.

“People cheered me, which is unusual in this town for me,” he said.

In September 2010, a similar incident occurred in which Davidson had a fan at Miller Park ejected for directing gay slurs at St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina. 

The Phillies blew a 6-0 lead as the Giants gained an 8-7 advantage into the bottom of the sixth. However, the Phillies continued on, driving Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner from the game before pulling back ahead.

Altherr hit a two-run homer in the first inning and a run-scoring single in the second. He then bounced a two-run single up the middle off Sergio Romo to start the Phillies’ eighth-inning explosion, which continued with Cameron Rupp’s three-run homer that gave Philadelphia the final lead.

“It should give us confidence,” Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. “We beat Bumgarner over there in San Francisco. Anytime you beat a classy pitcher like that, a top-notch guy, it’s got to give you confidence.”

Led by Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt, who combined for five of the Giants’ 10 hits and six of its eight RBIs, San Francisco roared back. Nevertheless, the Phillies began their rally in the eighth off newcomer Will Smith, who was removed after yielding Odubel Herrera’s one-out infield single and Cesar Hernandez’s double.

Smith, who was acquired from the Brewers before Monday’s non-waiver Trade Deadline, spent most of Tuesday traveling from Milwaukee.

“Nobody flies cross-country before their first outing,” Smith said. “But that’s not an excuse by any means. I told them I was good to go and I didn’t lie to them. I felt ready. It just didn’t go my way tonight.”

Hernandez, Altherr, Maikel Franco and Rupp picked up a combined 12 hits and 12 RBIs in the victory. In addition to the homers by Altherr and Rupp, Franco hit a three-run homer in the second.

The Phillies spotted right-hander Zach Eflin a 6-0 lead after the second inning, but he allowed a run in the fourth and five runs in the fifth to tie the game.

The two teams will face off again for the second game of a three-game series in Philadelphia on Wednesday night. Right-hander Johnny Cueto will start for the Giants (61-45, 1st in NL West). He’s 0-2 with a 3.94 ERA in the second half, and is still seeking his first victory since the All-Star break. Right-hander Aaron Nola (seventh overall pick in the 2014 Draft) will take the mound for the Phillies (49-59, 4th in NL East). He is 1-5 with a 9.82 ERA in his last eight starts.

ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 25: Homeplate umpire Bob Davidson #61 warns the Seattle Mariners bench during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 25, 2015 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)