PHOENIX -- D-backs outfielder Steven Souza Jr. was ejected for the second time this year when home-plate umpire Mark Ripperger gave him the heave-ho for arguing a called third strike in the eighth inning of Thursday night's 7-6 loss to Atlanta.
Souza was unhappy with the final two strike calls on sinkers thrown by Braves left-hander Jonny Venters.
"I didn't think I said anything that was warranted to get ejected, and obviously in that situation, I'm not trying to get ejected," Souza said. "But I just wanted him to bear down a little bit. That's Venters' game -- to get me to swing at that pitch right there, and so my job is to get him up and if he's going to call the ball down [a strike], it leaves me out to dry. All I want him to know is, 'Hey look, have a little feel that he's going to keep throwing it down there and you need to bear down on the ball down a little more.'"
One inning later, Souza watched Socrates Brito, who had taken his place in right field, come up to bat with the game-winning run on first and two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
"I'm sitting here in my locker watching the ninth inning come up with David [Peralta] on first base and my chance to win the game," Souza said. "I live for that stuff. Nothing kills me more than having to sit there and watch my AB get taken from me."
Lamb on the mend
Third baseman Jake Lamb, who is out for the season after having surgery to repair fraying in his left shoulder last month, is enjoying being around his teammates while they are in Phoenix, but he has yet to venture into the dugout during a game.
"When the guys are at home, it's awesome being here at Chase Field and just talking trash to everybody," Lamb said with a laugh. "Just because I've been so worried about my shoulder getting hit, I haven't been in the dugout."
One thing that Lamb has learned as a result of the surgery is how to sleep sitting up. Because he still has to have his left arm in a sling at night, he can't lay down, so he's been sleeping in a chair.
"Once I stole all the pillows from all the bedrooms in the house, it's been great," said Lamb, who shares a house with right-hander Archie Bradley. "It's just kind of sad that the family room is like my room now."