Renteria attributes ejection to emotions

CHICAGO -- Cubs closer Jose Veras appreciated Rick Renteria sticking up for him on Tuesday night. The Cubs' manager was ejected in the ninth inning for arguing balls and strikes with home-plate umpire Jeff Nelson.

"You don't want him to get thrown out, but he argued because they called bad pitches to [Welington] Castillo, too," said Veras, who was on the mound in the ninth.

Castillo was called out on a questionable strike three to end the Chicago eighth.

"Every manager does what he feels he needs to do at a particular time," Renteria said Wednesday. "It's a feel thing. You don't want to go out there and try to embarrass an umpire. They have a tough job. Sometimes when you're watching a ballgame, you let loose, too, and you get ejected."

Renteria was the first Major League manager to get ejected this season, which was not exactly something the rookie skipper wanted on his resume. But he had managed in the Minor Leagues for affiliates of the Marlins and the Padres. Was he ever tossed then?

"Oh, yeah," Renteria said.

What sets him off?

"Any number of things," Renteria said. "You have a lot of guys working extremely hard to do their job, and you have a lot vested in the outcome, and the umpires have a lot vested in what they do on a daily basis. We get emotional. We're looking at the wins and losses. If I think things are kind of going awry, you try to address them, and last night, it just happened."

Renteria on Tuesday also argued a ball called on a 1-2 pitch to Jordy Mercer in the Pirates' ninth.

"You just want to win the ballgame -- I don't want him to get thrown out," Veras said. "I just want to finish my outing, have a good outing."

Veras did just that, striking out one in one inning. He did not give up a hit or walk a batter.

"It's going to be better," Veras said. "That's why we're working. I'm not going to be perfect for a six-month season. It's better to be struggling early than late. I'm going to be OK. I'm fine."