Jazz Chisholm explodes on home plate umpire, ejected during Yankees bullpen meltdown

The New York Yankees carried a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning on Tuesday evening in Cincinnati, nine outs away from tucking a much-needed victory in their back pocket after frittering away so many in recent weeks. From that point forward, they unraveled in more ways than one, highlighted by the tempest that stirred inside Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the bottom of the eighth.

First, Aaron Boone pulled Carlos Rodón at 88 pitches after six pristine innings. We're still waiting for the explanation. Then, Jonathan Loaisiga retired the first batter of the seventh frame, then surrendered a walk, single, single, and a bases-clearing double before exiting in distress with a trainer, banging on his chest and letting off some self-created steam. Tie game. Instantly.

Rage bubbled up once again in the top of the ninth, with Cody Bellinger on first base and Chisholm at the plate. Nursing a 2-0 count, Chisholm took ball three clearly low, only for home plate umpire Mark Wegner to reverse the at-bat and call a ball. That mistake completely unhooked Chisholm from reality.

He swung through strike three, snapped at Wegner from the dugout, probably should've been ejected right then and there, but instead decided to take his anger to the field, challenging the ump to stop staring him down. Then came the official heave-ho, and Chisholm unloaded.

Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. unloads on home plate umpire Mark Wegner and earns ejection after terrible strike call

If Chisholm was going to get ejected, then by goodness, he was going to earn it. Of course, it was also his responsibility to stay in the game, given the high probability that it was about to go to extras. He couldn't stop his emotions from boiling over, and it cost him (and the rattled team).

Boone's going to have to answer questions about his disastrous Rodón decision after this one, but the speed at which Chisholm unraveled really felt symbolic, standing in for whatever's happened to the Yankees since the second week of June.

The heat is certainly on in Cincinnati, but it wasn't focused on the right objectives. Yet again. Chisholm might not get off so easy, either. A suspension - his second of the year- could be en route.