Rays' Walls: Helmet tap that led to ejection 'totally unintentional'

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls cleared the air after being tossed in the ninth inning of Sunday's game against the Houston Astros, saying the helmet tap that resulted in the ejection wasn't intentional.

Walls took exception to a called strike by home plate umpire Nick Lentz while up to bat. He stepped out of the batter's box, voiced his displeasure, and then patted the top of his helmet - the same gesture used to call for a challenge using the ABS system MLB tested throughout spring training.

Lentz then ejected Walls and tempers flared.

(Video source: Fox Sports: MLB)

"I said that ball’s down, and then I heard the dugout kind of yapping at him a little bit, and I may have reiterated that ball's way down, but past that, I didn't say anything," Walls said of the exchange postgame, according to Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun.

"After seeing the video, it looks like I tapped my helmet, but it was totally unintentional, something I was not consciously aware of at all. I'm looking right at him when I'm doing it. At that point, maybe I was frustrated with the strike call, but there was no sincerity of trying to show the guy up."

Walls said his frustration stemmed from what he believes was Lentz rushing to an assumption.

"Just to be so on edge thinking that somebody's just trying to be so disrespectful and show you up at that point, I think it was premature," he said.

"I don't really remember any time that I've been thrown out of a game since I've played baseball. I kind of want to apologize to him ... if that's what he thought that I did, but at the same time, like, after missing a call, you have to kind of understand the situation. You can't just toss me for something that you're not totally sure that I was doing.”

Christopher Morel entered as a pinch hitter to complete the at-bat Walls started and struck out. The Astros held on to win 1-0, securing a split of the four-game series between the two teams.

Walls and the Rays have Monday off before returning home to host the Texas Rangers for a three-game set.