Reds first baseman Joey Votto made contact with home plate umpire Chris Conroy after being ejected Wednesday.
Visibly upset after striking out to end the top of the third inning against the Pirates, Votto headed toward first base to take his defensive position before being told he was ejected for yelling and spiking his helmet as he walked away.
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The 2010 National League MVP then charged Conroy and the two bumped chests before Reds manager Bryan Price intervened, thinking that Votto's frustration was directed more at Pittsburgh pitcher Gerrit Cole than the umpire.
"I saw the strikeout, and I knew Joey was upset with that," Price said, according to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. "I didn't see the ejection. When I found out he was ejected, the home-plate umpire felt like he was saying something to him. I don't think Joey was. I think he was having some back and forth with somebody on the team."
Votto, who hadn't been ejected from a game since 2010, can expect a fine and/or suspension from Major League Baseball. He took an apologetic tone on the issue after the game.
"I feel like as a Major League player, I have a responsibility to be a good example for younger players," Votto said, per Sheldon. "And making contact with an umpire is unacceptable. During this entire thing, that's the one thing I feel very remorseful for. I think it was something that just crossed the line."
As for any kind of existing issues with Cole, Votto declined to elaborate.
"You guys would have to go to video replay for that sort of thing." he said. "The stuff on the field I usually don't comment on."
Cole didn't have much to say on the matter, either.
"I don't really know what happened, honestly," he said following the game, per Sheldon.