Noah Syndergaard ejected after throwing pitch behind Chase Utley

New York Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard was ejected in the third inning of Saturday night’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers for throwing a pitch that sailed behind Chase Utley.

The pitch was assumed to be retaliation for Utley’s take-out slide on Ruben Tejada during last season’s NLDS, the result of which broke Tejada’s leg. Home plate umpire Adam Harami wasted no time signaling that Syndergaard’s night was over. He also ejected Mets’ manager Terry Collins, who vehemently argued his decision. 

Syndergaard’s complete intentions were unclear, but it is safe to assume he at least intended to send a message. The league will have to decide if he meant to hit Utley with that message, or if got the desired result by no doubt sending a chill down Utley’s spine. 

[Related: Report: Mets unhappy with Dodgers defensive positioning tactics]

Based on his history, it was probably the latter. Syndergaard also famously buzzed Kansas City’s Alcidies Escobar with a head-high fastball on the first pitch in Game 3 of the World Series. Syndergaard wanted to set the tone by ending the trend of Escobar swinging at the game’s first pitch. The message was received, and that would be the only game New York won in the series. 

Regardless of his intentions, Syndergaard left the field to a hero’s cheer form a raucious crowd at Citi Field. The fans were already hyped from celebrating the 30th anniversary of their 1986 World Series championship team. Now they’re being fueled by the animosity of baseball’s newest and hottest rivalry.  

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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813