New York Mets' Noah Syndergaard ejected for throwing behind Chase Utley

NEW YORK -- New York Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard was ejected from Saturday night's game in the third inning for throwing a pitch behind the back of Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley.

With one out and none on in the third, Syndergaard's first pitch sailed behind Utley. It appeared to be an attempt to exact revenge for the National League Division Series last October, when ex-Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada suffered a broken leg after a hard slide into second base by Utley.

Home plate umpire Adam Hamari immediately ejected Syndergaard. Mets manager Terry Collins came out and vociferously argued before he, too, was ejected. Following the ejection, Collins went back to argue some more with Hamari and had to be restrained from going after Hamari a third time.

A sellout crowd that turned out to watch a pregame ceremony honoring the 1986 World Series champion Mets -- who got into four bench-clearing fights during their title season -- gave Syndergaard and Collins standing ovations as they exited before showering Hamari with boos.

Right-hander Logan Verrett entered for the Mets and elicited cheers by striking out Utley.