CLEVELAND -- Ian Kinsler's 10th career ejection was the result of a misconstrued gesture, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said after Sunday's 9-5 win over the Indians. But by game's end, that was the lesser of Ausmus' concerns with his star second baseman.
Kinsler had stayed in the game after taking a Trevor Bauer fastball off the top of his helmet in the third inning. Though he passed an initial concussion exam administered by head athletic trainer Kevin Rand, he was feeling worse by the time home-plate umpire Jordan Baker ejected him at the end of the fifth inning.
By game's end, he was showing concussion symptoms.
"After the game, he was a little dizzy," Ausmus said. "He certainly has some symptoms of a concussion."
Ausmus said Kinsler was being checked every time he was in the dugout. Steven Moya had grabbed a bat and was getting ready to potentially pinch-hit for Kinsler in the fourth if he couldn't go, Ausmus said.
"If Kevin thought there was an indication that a concussion was there, we would have taken him out immediately," Ausmus said. "Initially, he didn't seem to have one. …
"Kevin asked him questions like, 'What was the count when you got hit?' He was spot on with all his answers. As he stood out there longer, I think he was getting foggier."
Kinsler was contentious with Baker on his way to the dugout the inning he was hit, having scored when Bauer hit Victor Martinez on his right knee with the bases loaded.
"He was definitely upset that we had hit three of their better guys," Indians catcher Chris Gimenez said. "That's what he was trying to explain to Jordan: 'That's the third guy. Three of our best players, and you're not doing anything about it.'"
By contrast, he wasn't talking with Baker when he was ejected coming off the field. According to Ausmus, he was going over defensive coverage with Miguel Cabrera on a stolen-base attempt that inning.
"I think the umpire thought was Kinsler was motioning toward him when he was really just communicating with Miggy," Ausmus said, "and it just snow-balled from there.
"Kinsler wasn't even aware really that he got thrown out. He wasn't paying attention to the home-plate umpire. I think Jordan saw something that wasn't really happening. I really just think it was a misunderstanding."
Andrew Romine hit for Kinsler in the top of the sixth and stayed in the game at third base, with Erick Aybar moving to second. Kinsler was undergoing further testing after the game; it wasn't clear if he traveled with the team.
The Tigers have Monday off before opening a three-game series against the Twins in Minnesota. With expanded rosters in September, the Tigers likely wouldn't use the seven-day concussion disabled list if Kinsler can't play.