Holliday tossed after arguing strike call

ST. LOUIS -- Matt Holliday threw down his bat in disgust in the seventh inning of Tuesday's series opener against the Red Sox, a 3-2 Cardinals win, and an ejection from home-plate umpire Mark Ripperger quickly followed.

After the Cardinals had evened the score at 2, Holliday batted with the potential go-ahead run on second and two outs. He took called strikes on the first and third pitches of the at-bat, both of them sitting on the lower outside corner.

Following the third strike, in a similar location, Holliday slammed down the bat and began yelling at Ripperger, who quickly tossed him.

"I see a guy who has been seeing the ball really well, has the go-ahead run on second base late in the game and wants more than anything to make it happen," manager Mike Matheny said. "Close pitches, I'm sure, but I know that he's frustrated when he doesn't agree with a strike call."

Holliday eventually made his way to the dugout, making a mark with his cleats in the dirt to show Ripperger where he thought the pitch was located as Matheny came out.

Matheny had just one qualm.

"At that point my only frustration is how quickly he got tossed," Matheny said. "I understand the umpire's position, too, they see the guy throw their [equipment], and that's not anything we preach around here. We do know our guys are into this, and we don't want to strip them of their emotion. That one just got the best of him in a big situation."

The ejection was Holliday's first this season; he is the fifth Cardinals player tossed this season.