KANSAS CITY -- The bottom of the seventh inning in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Royals was one the Giants would like to forget, and it started with a controversial call that resulted in manager Tony Vitello’s third ejection of the season.
San Francisco was looking good with a 3-0 lead when Vinnie Pasquantino started the fateful inning with a double into the right-field corner off Giants starter Landen Roupp. Pasquantino appeared to come off the bag on his slide into second, and shortstop Willy Adames slapped a quick tag on him.
However, second-base umpire Mike Estabrook gave a pushing sign, indicating the play was dead because he felt Pasquantino had been pushed off the bag. Vitello came out to argue and, on his way back to the dugout, he was ejected by third-base umpire Lance Barrett.
The Royals erupted at that point, with Salvador Perez launching a two-run homer that trimmed the Giants’ lead to 3-2 and tied George Brett for the Royals’ all-time home run record with 317. Relievers Sam Hentges and Keaton Winn couldn’t stop the Royals’ rally until Kansas City had batted around, scored five and taken a 5-3 lead.