Watch: Noah Syndergaard throws a pitch behind Chase Utley, is ejected.

NEW YORK — In the third inning of the sixth game between the New York Mets and the Dodgers this season, Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard was ejected for throwing a pitch behind the back of Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley.

Here’s a closer look at the pitch in question, the first pitch Utley saw in his second plate appearance:

Home plate umpire Adam Hamari issued the ejection swiftly. Mets manager Terry Collins was also ejected after a long, face-to-face argument. Utley retreated to the dugout while the argument played out and did not return until reliever Logan Verrett had completed his warm-up tosses.

Ever since Utley’s controversial slide in the 2015 National League Division Series broke the leg of then-Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada, the veteran was the focus of possible retaliation on the Mets’ part. Until Saturday, nothing had happened. Utley batted once against the Mets in Game 5 of the Division Series — five days after his slide — and 20 more times this season without incident.

But Hamari’s quick trigger Saturday suggests a strict warning was still in place, more than seven months after the original incident.

Verrett relieved Syndergaard with a 1-0 count on Utley and struck him out to a standing ovation at Citi Field. Utley has been booed throughout the series — during pregame introductions, when he bats, and whenever he touches the ball on defense.

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About J.P. Hoornstra

J.P. Hoornstra covers the Dodgers, Angels and Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Torrance Daily Breeze, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Whittier Daily News and Redlands Daily Facts. Before taking the beat in 2012, J.P. covered the NHL for four years. UCLA gave him a degree once upon a time; when he graduated on schedule, he missed getting Arnold Schwarzenegger's autograph on his diploma by five months.