Nate Pearson had a controversial – and intense – debut with Cubs | Chicago Cubs News

Nate Pearson will always remember his Cubs debut.

In large part because of a controversial — and intense — sequence of events.

Pearson came into the game for the Cubs in the bottom of the 7th inning with his team losing 6-0 to the Reds in Cincinnati.

It was his first time pitching in a Cubs uniform after he was acquired from the Blue Jays in a Saturday trade.

Things started off fine for the hard-throwing right-hander, as he worked a perfect opening frame with a popout, groundout and lineout.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell sent Pearson out for the 8th inning and he promptly struck out the leadoff batter.

But then he allowed a long homer to former Cub Jeimer Candelario.

Candelario watched the ball briefly before beginning his trot and on the next pitch, Pearson hit Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson on a 96 mph fastball. Pearson was not looking at Candelario while he watched his home run sail into the right-field bleachers.

Stephenson took some exception to the plunking, showing some frustration and several Reds players jumped up to the top step of the dugout. But it did not escalate to a benches-clearing incident.

As Stephenson walked to first base, the umpires huddled together and eventually decided to eject Pearson from the game.

Counsell was irate at the decision, storming out of the dugout to argue with the group of umpires that nothing about the hit-by-pitch was intentional and questioning why his pitcher was thrown out.

“Look, guys getting hit in the head is not good,” Counsell said. “Not good at all. Their team, our team – not good. There’s just no intent there.”

[Catch the entire sequence on the Marquee Sports Network app]

Both teams received a warning after the incident.

Pearson said he was trying to get a 2-seam fastball inside on Stephenson but the ball slipped.

“It all happened so quick,” Pearson said. “Not my intention at all. Definitely not trying to do that my first outing as a Cub.”

With Pearson departed, Drew Smyly came in and got the final 2 outs of the inning.

The Cubs ended up losing the game 7-1.