DETROIT -- Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire was ejected from Wednesday night's 3-0 loss to the A's for arguing balls and strikes.
On a day when Detroit dismissed pitching coach Chris Bosio for insensitive comments toward a club employee, Gardenhire grew impatient with home-plate umpire Lance Barksdale's strike zone for A's starter Chris Bassitt. The right-hander walked the bases loaded with two out in the third inning, but he picked up two called strikes on Niko Goodrum, who eventually struck out swinging and missing at a pitch over the plate.

Gardenhire continued the feedback with Barksdale from the dugout once the inning ended before Barksdale tossed him. It marked the third ejection of the season for Gardenhire, and his first since May 12. Bench coach Steve Liddle took over managerial duties for the rest of the game.
"Obviously when you're facing a team that is on a run like the A's are right now, you get very few opportunities to put runs on the board," Liddle said. "And [Gardenhire] just thought in that situation, that was a chance we had to put a run on the board, and there were a couple things that Ron saw that he didn't like. That led to me being out here to talk to you."