On Saturday afternoon, the Atlanta Braves played the second game of their series with the New York Yankees in the Bronx.
After losing 3-2 on Friday, the Braves dropped Saturday’s game by a score of 5-4.
Braves Manager Makes Honest Statement
GettyHome plate umpire Dan Merzel #3 talks to manager Walt Weiss #22 of the Atlanta Braves after a balk call during the fifth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 08, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City.
During the game, Chris Sale was called for a balk that led to manager Walt Weiss getting ejected.
Chad Bishop of AJC wrote: “Wild stuff in the Bronx. Chris Sale has been called for a balk allowing Spencer Jones to score from third. To keep Sale from getting run up, Walt Weiss intervenes and has been tossed.”
After the game, Weiss made a brutally honest statement.
Weiss (h/t Bishop): “It’s a terrible call. I always try to show the umpires respect, and they know that, but you can’t make that call right there … you can’t make that call right there, at that point in the game, in a game like that. Can’t do it.”
Here’s what people were saying:
@rolyvic11: “It was a balk, regardless, that runner was scoring anyway, runner on third no outs.. that’s a run always”
@Drake__Baldwin: “I like that fire from Walt. He doesn’t challenge umps much but he did the right thing”
@DavidV384494184: “That umpire did not have a good game.”
GettyHome plate umpire Dan Merzel #3 talks to manager Walt Weiss #22 and Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves after a balk call during the fifth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 08, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City.
@Sanchez4Cy: “That was absolutely a balk by Chris sale i dont know what Chris sale or Walt Weiss is arguing about”
@EliWright94: “To all the ignorant commenters, for context, Sale had been doing this essentially the whole game, and he does this regularly. It was just this one time the ump randomly decided to call it, which is why he and Walt were irate”
Braves Right Now
The Braves are still at the top of the National League East with a 70-47 record in 117 games.
They have gone 8-2 over their last ten games (and are 31-27 in 58 games on the road).
On Sunday afternoon, the Braves will look to avoid a sweep.
Atlanta Braves Manager Makes Brutally Honest Statement After Yankees Game