A few hours after Mets owner Steve Cohen stood up for Buck Showalter, the manager attempted to stand up for his players — and got ejected.
Showalter was tossed by first-base umpire and crew chief Ron Kulpa with two outs in the eighth inning of the Mets’ 5-2 loss after Brewers left-fielder Christian Yelich hit a two-run single.
But the play Showalter tried to argue preceded Yelich’s hit: Milwaukee center-fielder Joey Wiemer was drilled in the hand by an Adam Ottavino pitch to load the bases despite apparently swinging at the ball.
It was the second ejection in four days for Showalter, with the other occurring Sunday during a bullpen meltdown against the Phillies.
His three ejections this year are his most since 2011 with the Orioles and one behind his career-high of four (1992 with the Yankees and 2006 with the Rangers).
He was told that Wiemer didn’t swing, but it was “pretty obvious he did,” Showalter said.
“Surprised two guys both missed it,” he added.
Showalter, Ottavino and catcher Francisco Alvarez were all frustrated that Wiemer was awarded a hit-by-pitch, instead of being called for a strike or foul ball. Ottavino’s pitch veered inside and hit Wiemer in the hand or wrist, and he sprinted away from the batter’s box in pain as his helmet also fell off. Alvarez spoke with home-plate umpire Carlos Torres before the next at-bat, but Wiemer still took first base after the trainer examined him.
“I mean, I know he swung, but, I mean, Ron’s a veteran umpire,” Ottavino said. “I’m just gonna assume he wasn’t watching because he can make that call. I don’t know what happened there, because pretty sure the home-plate umpire knew it. Just decided to check to make double sure.
Buck Showalter is ejected by first base umpire Ron Kalpa for arguing a call during the Mets’ game against the Brewers. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con“But sometimes it goes that way. You can’t change it. I guess you just gotta live with it.”
That call loaded the bases. Three pitches later, the Brewers extended their lead when Yelich hit a ball that squeaked past second baseman Jeff McNeil.
Showalter had appeared frustrated throughout the game, including in the first inning, when he was upset about a second called strike against Starling Marte.
When Showalter was ejected on May 9, it marked his first time getting tossed from the game as manager of the Mets.
Against the Phillies on Sunday, he expressed frustration for a check-swing call during an at-bat by Mark Canha.
But Showalter’s latest ejection is perhaps a sign the Mets’ frustrations are boiling over amid their disappointing start.
Their latest loss was all but cemented with Yelich’s run-scoring hit.
“It was tough,” Ottavino said. “Thought I made a good pitch there and thought I had an 0-2 count. Instead, I had a guy on base.”
