CNN
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Pitcher Joe Musgrove was subjected to an ear probe by umpires throughout the San Diego Padres’ dominant 6-0 win in opposition to the New York Mets as they moved onto the Nationwide League Division Collection.
Within the backside of the sixth inning, Mets supervisor Buck Showalter requested the umps to pause the sport and examine Musgrove for doable use of sticky substances after noticing his ears have been shiny.
However after checking the right-hander’s face, glove and hat, nothing suspicious was discovered.
“I feel he was checking for some kind of substance that was serving to me spin the ball. I’ve seen it earlier than,” Musgrove later informed reporters.
“On the level within the recreation when it occurred, I used to be so dialed in already, all my pitches felt good,” he added. “I felt like I used to be executing, so I virtually simply let it type of hearth into me.”
Musgrove allowed just one hit in seven innings throughout Sunday’s recreation at Citi Discipline, hanging out 5. He turned the primary pitcher in main league historical past to throw seven shutout innings and permit one hit in a winner-takes-all postseason recreation.
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The Padres will subsequent face the Los Angeles Dodgers in a five-game NLDS, beginning on Tuesday.
Requested concerning the substance examine, Mets supervisor Showalter mentioned he “love[s]” Musgrove as a pitcher however “get[s] a variety of data within the dugout” and is “charged with doing what was greatest for the New York Mets.”
He added that “spin charges and various things” had prompted him to name for the examine, after which Mets followers aimed chants of “cheater” at Musgrove.
Padres supervisor Bob Melvin, in the meantime, queried the choice to name for a probe.
“The issue I’ve is Joe Musgrove is a person of character,” he mentioned. “Questioning his character – to me – that’s the half I’ve an issue with. I’m right here to inform everyone that Joe Musgrove is as above board as any pitcher I do know, any participant I do know.”
