Why did Ronel Blanco get ejected? Latest on the Astros’ top pitcher's potential suspension

Houston Astros hurler Ronel Blanco was ejected after three innings from Tuesday night's game against the Oakland Athletics. The first base umpire sensed a sticky substance in Blanco's glove, upon which all the officials converged for inspection. Blanco was ejected by crew chief and third base umpire Laz Diaz.

Blanco had a stellar start to the game, pitching three innings where he allowed only four hits and one walk while having four Ks. After the game, Blanco talked about his ejection:

“They told me that they found something sticky in the glove and that was the reason why they told me I couldn’t continue pitching with the glove,” Blanco said through a team interpreter.

The sticky substance found was rosin. Blanco said he didn't know if it was illegal given that he saw other pitchers using the same substance.

“No, I didn’t know that was illegal,” said Blanco. “I see other pitchers come in and do it, as well, so I thought that was normal.”

Astros manager Joe Espada was given the glove for examination and admitted he found a sticky substance in it.

“I believe I kind of saw the substance in there and the stickiness to it," he said.

Ronel Blanco will appeal against a potential 10-game suspension

MLB: Oakland Athletics at Houston Astros

As per MLB playing rules, pitchers found to have used foreign substances will be given a 10-game suspension for the first offense. The league will conduct a thorough investigation of the glove before determining if Blanco needs to serve a 10-game suspension.

Blanco said he would appeal against a potential suspension as he felt he had been done wrong.

“It’s something that’s obviously extremely frustrating,” he said. “I want to go out there and compete and try to help the team and I couldn't do that.”

First base umpire Erich Bacchus shared his side of things, as he was the one who found the substance inside the glove.

"When I went to go do his second check, going into the fourth inning, I asked for his glove,” Bacchus told a pool reporter.

“That was the first thing I checked. And I felt something inside the glove [he pointed to his palm as he said this]. It was the stickiest stuff I’ve felt on a glove since we’ve been doing this for a few years now. So, I brought the crew in. The crew conferred and then we went from there.”

As per Ronel Blanco's account, the rosin on his forearm might have found its way into the glove due to sweat.