CHICAGO _ Kris Bryant felt he had to speak up Tuesday, and it resulted in the first ejection of his major-league career.
Home plate umpire Lance Barksdale tossed Bryant for arguing a called third strike in the fourth inning of the Cubs' 7-2 victory over the White Sox.
After fouling a pitch off his kneecap, Bryant thought the next pitch from left-hander Carlos Rodon was inside, only for Barksdale to call him out.
Bryant pointed four times to indicate the pitch was inside before Barksdale ejected him for the first time since he was tossed in a game playing for Triple-A Iowa in 2014.
"I feel like I only want to say something when I know for a fact," said Bryant, who believed a television replay supported his contention. "Sometimes there are borderline pitches that are very hard to call.
"That one, I knew for a fact. I had to do it. I had to stick up for myself. I don't want to be that guy who gets thrown out of games. I try to be professional on the field, but I have to stick up for myself sometimes."
The strikeout was Bryant's third of the game, and he has struck out 85 times in 332 at-bats.
"I've had a pretty dang good year with strikeouts," said Bryant, defusing any sign that his high total fueled his frustration. "I'm OK with that."
Bryant said he didn't swear at Barksdale. Maddon was surprised at the ejection, considering Barksdale's usually mild-mannered approach and his explanation.
"I didn't think it was worthy of ejection," said Maddon, who talked to Barksdale for a time after the ejection. "I didn't think he would say anything worthy of an ejection. It's almost like (Ben) Zobrist with an umpire.
"I've clearly said a lot harsher than that. I did not want to get kicked out at that moment. It was not really worth it at that moment. So awkwardly benign what he said and that he would kicked out for it."
Said Bryant: "I know (Barksdale) is trying to do the best job he can. I'm doing the best job I can."
