Papi ejected for gesture at first toward plate

KANSAS CITY -- In a theatrical seventh inning during Boston's 7-4 loss to the Royals on Saturday night, Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz singled off reliever Kelvin Herrera, flipped his bat in front of the plate and was ejected by home-plate umpire Bruce Dreckman after reaching first base.

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Ortiz, who argued two strike calls earlier in the at-bat, seemed to continue the disagreement with Dreckman once he reached first base, including a gesture toward home plate.

After Ortiz was ejected, manager John Farrell came out to discuss the call with Dreckman, while Ortiz rushed back for an explanation and added to the theatrics by gesturing that he was throwing the umpire out of the game before heading to the dugout.

"I wanted to find out what he threw me out for," said Ortiz, who said the explanation he received was "because I did what I did at first base."

After the game, Ortiz denied speculation that he was ejected because of the bat flip and spoke more about what he sees as a decaying relationship between players and umpires.

"All I've got to say is that ... this situation between players and umpires is getting to a ridiculous point," Ortiz said. "Because it seems to me it's more of a feeling than a reality. I'm an 18-year veteran with this league, and when I was coming up, it seemed like they used to respect you because of that. But it seems like it doesn't work that way anymore."

Ortiz went 1-for-3 with a walk.

"Growing up in my house," Ortiz said, "if you don't respect me, I don't have to respect you. That's how I am, that's life.

"I don't feel like I did anything wrong."