HOUSTON -- Skip Schumaker's first ejection at the helm of the Rangers couldn’t have come at a more interesting time.
The Rangers and Astros were tied, 3-3, in the top of the seventh of Sunday’s series finale at Daikin Park when home-plate umpire Todd Tichenor rung up pinch-hitter Nicky Lopez on a full-count slider well below the zone from Bryan Abreu.
Rangers hitting coach Justin Viele was ejected first, immediately after the end of the inning.
Schumaker initially came out of the dugout to make defensive changes, hoping to talk politely about the called strike three. After Viele was tossed, he had to further express his disbelief with Tichenor. The two went back and forth before pausing for the in-stadium rendition of "God Bless America." They then continued during the "Deep in the Heart of Texas" singalong, during which Tichenor finally ejected Schumaker.
The Rangers manager got his money’s worth afterwards, continuing to plead his case.
It’s also worth noting that the Rangers were out of challenges as catcher Elias Díaz used two in the first three innings behind the plate.
“I know it's tough, I get it,” Schumaker explained. “Todd's been a really good umpire for a long time, but that moment is a big call, a crucial call that you just gotta get right. I felt like it was a chance to make a difference in the game with Joc [Pederson] on deck, arguably our hottest hitter. It's hard. I get it, and so felt like I had to state my case.”