ST. PETERSBURG – Mired in a skid that has seen them drop 15 of their past 20 contests, the Yankees’ frustrations boiled over on Wednesday evening, with manager Aaron Boone and bench coach Brad Ausmus ejected from their 3-0 loss to the Rays at Tropicana Field.
José Caballero was thrown out attempting to steal second base on the back end of a double play, with Paul Goldschmidt having struck out against Shane McClanahan. Boone said the Yankees attempted to challenge, but home-plate umpire Doug Eddings ruled they had not done so in time.
Ausmus was ejected first, then Boone followed after coming on the field to challenge Eddings. It was Boone’s third ejection of the season and the 49th of his career.
“I thought we were in time,” Boone said. “I haven’t even looked to know, but I should have kept myself in the game there. That’s not a good time to go out there and get personal with it, just based on some things with this crew. I’ve got to do a better job in that spot of staying in the game.”
Boone was alluding to an incident in the seventh inning on Monday, when Jasson Domínguez tapped his helmet for an ABS review that was not granted. Home-plate umpire Emil Jimenez told Boone that Domínguez had been “influenced” by voices on the Yankees’ bench.
According to Boone, something similar happened when the Yankees had the crew for a recent series in New York.
“I don’t like to make it personal like that,” Boone said. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
Caballero said Wednesday’s play at second base “was very close.”
“It got out of hand, but it’s part of the game,” Caballero said.
With both Boone and Ausmus out of the dugout, the Yankees entrusted their lineup card to field coordinator and director of catching Tanner Swanson.