Maddon gets heated, tossed in crucial inning
Rays manager disagrees with strike zone to earn fifth ejection in 2013
TORONTO -- Manager Joe Maddon was ejected from Sunday's Rays-Blue Jays game at Rogers Centre, seemingly firing up his club in a big spot in the seventh inning before it went on to win, 7-6, and guarantee a tiebreaker game against the Rangers on Monday at 8:07 p.m. ET on TBS.
Joel Peralta had just walked Moises Sierra to load the bases in the seventh when Maddon went to the mound to huddle with his players.
Once the mound visit lingered, Maddon's intent appeared obvious: He did not like home-plate umpire Paul Schrieber's strike zone. For once Schrieber reached the mound, Maddon turned around to begin a verbal assault.
Maddon quickly received his fifth ejection of the season and 32nd of his career, but he did manage to get his say-so before leaving the field.
Peralta then got pinch-hitter Adam Lind to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Maddon would not clarify whether he was arguing balls or strikes or not; he simply stated: "I had enough."
Catcher Jose Lobaton offered a better explanation.
"I remember that Peralta said, 'Hey, you stay in the game,' and [Maddon] was like, 'No, I can't, this guy's got to call strikes,'" Lobaton said. "But it was a tough play for the umpire. I thought the pitchers made good pitches."