Joel Peralta: Tampa Bay Rays Pitcher Ejected for Foreign Substance on Glove

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Joel Peralta was kindly asked to leave his game against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday for having a foreign substance on his glove. 

Peralta came out of the bullpen with plans of starting the eighth inning to protect the Rays' 5-4 lead. That never happened. The umpires convened at the mound and started giving his glove the once-over. One of the umps confiscated said glove and carried it off the field. And Peralta was ejected.

The Washington Post's Adam Kilgore tweeted out the news:

"

Press box announcement on Joel Peralta: Ejected for having a "foreign substance on or in his fielding glove."

— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) June 19, 2012"

Jake McGee handled Tampa Bay's pitching duties in the eighth in his place, and he did so in perfect fashion. McGee did not allow a hit or walk, and the Rays held their lead for the 5-4 win.

No information has been made available regarding the nature of the substance yet, but one can only assume it was something that would help doctor the ball.

UPDATE: The Associated Press is reporting Wednesday that the substance on Peralta's glove was pine tar, via ESPN.com.

The umps' attention was brought to Peralta's glove by Nationals manager Davey Johnson, and Rays manager Joe Maddon did not seem to agree with the decision. He argued with the umpires for a few moments before walking to the dugout and giving a glare aimed in the direction of the Nationals dugout.

This season, Peralta is 0-2 with two saves and a 3.81 ERA in 34 games. This is the well-traveled reliever's seventh year in the majors, and the Rays are the 36-year-old pitcher's fifth team. 

Coincidentally, his last team prior to the Rays is the same Washington Nationals team that he just got denied the chance to pitch against.