Yost ejected for the first time this season

TORONTO -- It takes a lot to get Royals manager Ned Yost ejected from a contest. But on Saturday, he had "seen enough" in disputing home-plate umpire Will Little's strike zone.

Yost was ejected in the eighth inning during a pitching change as he voiced his displeasure with Little's called ball that resulted in a second free pass with the bases loaded. The Blue Jays pushed across two runs as they rallied for a 4-2 win at Rogers Centre.

It was Yost's first ejection of the season and 30th of his managerial career.

The skipper felt reliever Aaron Crow was punished for his inability to command the ball within the zone. Crow issued back-to-back four-pitch walks, sending the Royals to their second consecutive loss.

Crow walked Brett Lawrie with game tied at 2 and then Rajai Davis. Yost felt the fourth pitch to Lawrie was "definitely a strike."

"Crow finally throws a strike and it gets called a ball. A strike is a strike," Yost said. "You deserve another opportunity to throw another pitch and see if we can keep the game at [a one-run deficit]."

Yost believes Little was making Crow earn a call, something he doesn't believe is fair.

"I understand he had thrown seven balls in a row up until that point," Yost said. "But when you throw a strike, you get another opportunity in a 3-0 count."

The ejection came a day after Yost argued a questionable call made by Little at first base in Friday's 3-2 loss. Replays appeared to show that speedster Emilio Bonifacio beat out a sacrifice bunt in what turned out to be a critical inning for the Royals.