Bucs manager Kelly ejected for arguing about field conditions at soggy GABP 

CINCINNATI -- As the rain poured down on Great American Ball Park, a simple conversation on a possible delay turned into Pirates manager Don Kelly’s MLB-leading fifth ejection of the season in a 10-2 loss to the Reds on Sunday afternoon. The ejection occurred in the fourth inning with Pittsburgh trailing, 7-1.

Kelly worked in an argument over the field conditions, saying it was on the umpiring crew if a player were to be injured. In the top of the fourth, the game was paused for over 25 minutes to fix the infield dirt. Puddles built along the foul lines and pitchers struggled to grip the baseball, but no true rain delay was called.

“I just thought that we were unnecessarily putting the players at risk with what was going on out on the field,” Kelly said. “I mean, the field took a lot [of water] yesterday, took a lot today, and I just was confused as to why we didn’t pull the tarp in that situation to try to keep the water off the field.”

Kelly was referring to a rainy game on Saturday night that included a 1-hour, 46-minute delay. The rain was on and off throughout Sunday’s series finale, and after the delay without using the tarp, Reds starter Chase Burns returned to the mound to finish his outing.

Through the rain, Pirates starter Mitch Keller couldn’t find a grip and allowed seven runs. Noah Murdock entered in the third looking to add some length, but he couldn’t return after the unofficial delay.

“I thought we should’ve put the tarp on prior to that,” Kelly said. “It sucks for both teams. We lost Murdock there, too; he would’ve kept on going and just didn’t think we could sustain any more injuries.”

Kelly added that he was frustrated due to the risk for injury. He pointed to first baseman Spencer Horwitz, who returned from the injured list on Sunday after a month away. Even after the grounds crew cleared the mess, players still slipped, specifically Nick Gonzales stumbling out of the batter’s box.

Pittsburgh tallied a run in the top of the fourth, also breaking up Burns’ no-hitter. The rain held up, and Kelly was given the treat of enjoying the rest of the game from the comfort of his office.