Vitello tossed from Game 162, ending year with MLB-high 7 ejections

SAN FRANCISCO -- After a disappointing first year at the helm of the Giants, manager Tony Vitello got a headstart to the offseason in Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Dodgers at Oracle Park.

Vitello was ejected by home-plate umpire Ryan Blakney for arguing a check-swing call in the top of the third inning, forcing him to watch the rest of Game 162 from the Giants’ clubhouse.

The Dodgers had runners on first and second with one out when Mookie Betts appeared to swing at a 2-2 pitch from left-hander Sam Hentges. First-base umpire and crew chief Marvin Hudson, however, ruled that Betts managed to check his swing for the second time in the at-bat, keeping the matchup alive.

The ruling -- which is considered a judgment call and not reviewable -- drew the ire of Vitello, who immediately jumped up on the dugout rail and started barking at the officiating crew.

Blakney responded by giving Vitello the quick hook, prompting the Giants’ skipper to walk out to the field to continue arguing. Vitello exchanged heated words with Blakney and then continued to vent his frustration directly to Hudson, who walked over from first base and got in Vitello’s face for several seconds before the two men finally separated.

It was the seventh ejection of the season for Vitello, the most among big league managers this year.

The check-swing call didn’t end up hurting the Giants, as Hentges got Betts to strike out on the very next pitch and then punched out Freddie Freeman to end the inning.