SEATTLE — A pair of questionable calls by the umpiring crew were enough to get generally unflappable White Sox manager Will Venable ejected from Monday’s series opener at the Mariners.
The second-year skipper lost his cool in the third inning after Randy Arozarena swatted a double to left field off Sox starter Noah Schultz with Jhonny Pereda on first.
Pereda took a wide turn around second, crossing paths and stumbling past second baseman Sam Antonacci before rounding third.
Left fielder Tristan Peters had the baserunner dead to rights at home, but the crew ruled Antonacci had interfered with Pereda and gave Seattle a run for a 2-0 lead.
Will Venable has been tossed after back-to-back questionable calls by the umps in Seattle pic.twitter.com/1EdOZEA2cj
— Sox On 35th (@SoxOn35th) May 19, 2026
The controversial two-out call came a play after umps denied a possible double-play liner that Antonacci seemed to catch and then intentionally drop. Crew chief Tripp Gibson ruled it a lineout, but Pereda didn’t appear to tag up either way.
It was all enough to get the usually laid-back Venable to toss his hat on the field in frustration, earning his first heave-ho of the season and fourth of his career.
Bench coach Walker McKinven ran things for the Sox in Venable’s stead.