SAN FRANCISCO — Manager Tony Vitello was ejected from the Giants’ disastrous 10-9 loss to the Reds on Wednesday for arguing a check-swing call in the top of the first inning.
The Reds had runners on first and second with two outs when Eugenio Suárez appeared to swing at an 0-1 sweeper from Giants ace Logan Webb. First-base umpire Ben May disagreed, ruling that Cincinnati’s designated hitter managed to check his swing on the pitch.
The ruling drew the ire of Vitello, who could be heard yelling, “Get it right!” from the Giants’ dugout. Home-plate umpire Ryan Blakney responded by tossing Vitello, who continued to vent his frustration by coming out to the field to protest the call.
The first-year manager exchanged a few more words with the umpiring crew before eventually walking off the field and retreating to the Giants’ clubhouse. It was the fourth career ejection for Vitello and his first since July 22 at Kansas City.
Was Vitello surprised Blakney ejected him as quickly as he did?
“The guys next to me were surprised,” Vitello said. “I was just kind of in it. I thought he swung, so I said I thought he swung. … The attitude we play with is a reflection of us. We need to be hooked up, no matter who’s pitching. But we added more stress to that inning than we needed to, so maybe that was a factor. But I thought the guy swung. It’s part of my role to say if that’s what I thought. Then you can get into escalation or de-escalation.”
Webb said he believed the umpires got the call right, though he still appreciated the fiery response from Vitello.
“I didn’t know if [Suárez] swung or not,” Webb said. “It definitely didn’t look like he swung. But [Vitello’s] got our back. He’s got my back. I think he made his point when he was talking. He was like, ‘He’s working his [butt] off out there,’ talking about me.”