McClendon ejected arguing strike call in eighth

SEATTLE -- Two hat throws. One ejection.

Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon was tossed with two outs in the eighth inning of the Rays' 2-0 win on Wednesday when he walked out of the dugout to argue a check-swing call that went against John Buck after the catcher appeared to hold up on a 3-2 pitch in the dirt.

McClendon's conversation with first-base umpire Lance Barksdale did not last long.

Barksdale listened for a few moments before he motioned that McClendon's day was finished.The first-year Mariners manager then took off his hat and chucked it before walking off the field with Seattle trailing, 2-0, and two outs instead of one with a runner on second.

When first-base coach Andy Van Slyke handed the hat back to him, McClendon tossed it into the stands.

"What I took exception with -- obviously I didn't think he swung -- but for the umpire to tell me don't come out there, that part I don't get," McClendon said. "It is what it is. You guys write what you see. You tell it, because if I tell it, then I'll get fined."

It was McClendon's second ejection of the season and the 25th of his career.

"That's one of the reasons we love playing for him," Buck said. "I was in starter mode, and I felt like I couldn't get thrown out there. He ran out there and wore one for me. That's a player's manager for sure."

What did Rays manager Joe Maddon think of the exchange?

"I really thought he'd go for the bag," Maddon said. "He's pretty good at that."