Red Sox outfielder Cody Ross was ejected for the second time in his career while manager Bobby Valentine was tossed for the sixth time in 2012 after Ross -- representing the potential tying run -- was called out on strikes on a full-count slider from Yankees reliever Rafael Soriano, at a time when New York held a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Home plate ump Alfonso Marquez rang up Ross, concluding a night in which the outfielder whiffed three times and grounded into a double play. Ross lifted his bat over his head but quickly lowered it while shouting a few words. Marquez gave him the thumb, resulting in a more vehement rebuttal from Ross that required both third base coach Jerry Royster and Valentine to try to separate the player from the umpire.
Valentine and Ross returned to the dugout, at which point Valentine was notified that he'd been ejected. The manager walked back to home plate to celebrate the marketplace of ideas with Marquez. The six ejections for Valentine represent the most in a single season for a Red Sox.
Royster was also ejected.
For complete Red Sox coverage, visit weei.com/redsox [1].
Links:
[1] http://www.weei.com/redsox
[2] http://www.weei.com/category/boston/red-sox