German ejected, Yankees, Blue Jays exchange words in Toronto

TORONTO — New York Yankees right-hander Domingo German was ejected from Tuesday night’s 6-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays after umpires checked his hands for banned sticky stuff.

German’s ejection, likely to trigger a 10-game suspension, was the fourth since Major League Baseball started its crackdown on prohibited grip aids two years ago and the second this season. It occurred during the second game of an increasingly acrimonious series between AL East rivals.

Aaron Judge, who homered in Tuesday’s win, was booed during his at-bats following allegations of sign stealing Monday. After Judge struck out in the third inning Tuesday, there was a brief shouting match between Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker and Yankees third base coach Luis Rojas. Walker went to the outfield end of the dugout, yelling and gesturing at Rojas, a former New York Mets manager.

There was additional tension in both dugouts at the same time. Upset and looking for clarity, Yankees manager Aaron Boone came out to discuss the situation with the umpires, prompting Toronto manager John Schneider to yell over in Boone’s direction.

German retired his first nine batters when his hands were examined by first base umpire D.J. Reyburn as the pitched headed to the mound for the bottom of the fourth. Two other umpires came over along with Boone, and German was ejected by crew chief James Hoye, who was working the plate.

Hoye’s crew examined the 30-year-old right-hander during an April 15 start against Minnesota, when Germán retired his first 16 batters, but allowed him to stay in that game. Hoye had asked German to wash rosin off his hand and some had remained on the pitcher’s pinkie finger.

Mets pitcher Max Scherzer was suspended for sticky stuff on April 20, and Seattle’s Héctor Santiago and Arizona’s Caleb Smith were suspended in 2021.

German was replaced by Ian Hamilton, who was removed after five batters and 27 pitches because of right groin tightness.

Before batting practice, Judge said he doesn’t appreciate being branded a potential cheater after he took a sideways peek before hitting a 462-foot home run in Monday’s 7-4 win.

And then he responded with a two-run home run that broke a 3-e tie on Tuesday night as the Yankees trotted off with the first two of this four-game set that continues on Wednesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.