Nationals' Harper on ejection: 'I don't think 40,000 people came to watch him ump today'

Although Bryce Harper was ejected in a bizarre incident on Wednesday - his second time in as many weeks - this one in particular struck a nerve.

The Washington Nationals outfielder was tossed in the third inning for what appeared to be an argument over him stepping out of the batter's box after a questionable strike call. Following the game, Harper's message towards home plate umpire Marvin Hudson was clear.

"I don't think 40,000 people came to watch him ump today," Harper told reporters following the 3-2 win over the New York Yankees.

He went on to say that Hudson took his mask off to argue with manager Matt Williams. In the interim, Harper stepped out of the box, which irked Hudson to the point of tossing him.

"... He told me to get my butt in the box, and I was like, 'You're still chirping at my manager, so let me take a minute,'" Harper said. "And he told me to get back in the box, and he said, 'You need to put your foot in the box,' and I go, 'I'll take the fine.'"

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

For Williams, it was clear that he didn't approve of Hudson's banter towards his star player, which prompted him to yell from the dugout, resulting in his ejection.

To show his displeasure, he kicked dirt all over home plate, a swipe with each foot, before exiting the diamond.

The Nationals said they plan to file a complaint with the league regarding Hudson's actions, saying "he baits players" into arguments.

Following the game, Hudson defended his actions, giving a scrum of reporters his side of the story.

"(Harper) didn't like the pitch, and I let him have his say going and coming," Hudson said. "The dugout didn't like it and one thing led to another and I had to run him. I had to eject him."

Last week, Harper spoke to the media about why he gets so hot-headed after getting tossed. He said it's not the fact that he gets thrown out that eats at him, it's the manner in which it happens.

"I don't like getting talked down to by an umpire," he said.

Harper, along with Williams, was ejected in the seventh inning on May 13 against the Arizona Diamondbacks after he was wrung up on a check swing call.

The Nationals prevailed 3-2 over the Yankees despite the pair of ejections to move into sole possession of first place in the National League East.