Gabe Kapler got tossed after a chaotic sequence in a game that saw back-to-back home runs and a bizarre warning from umpire Joe West. It started with Franco launching a homer off Wilmer Font, followed immediately by Brad Miller doing the same. Miller’s celebration included a tongue-out gesture that didn’t go unnoticed. Then an elderly pitching coach came out, clearly rattled, and tried to settle things with some ineffective pitch calling. After a couple of showpiece curveballs, the next pitch got crushed.
Tensions rose, and West decided to warn both teams, despite no clear provocation. Kapler was confused and angry, shouting that his team hadn’t done anything to deserve the warning. He tried to get an explanation, but West wasn’t having it. The veteran umpire tossed Kapler, prompting a profanity-laced reaction from the manager, who kept insisting the warning was unjustified. Kapler’s frustration boiled over as he tried to reason with West, who barely acknowledged him and kept writing in his notebook. The whole thing felt like a power move from West against a younger manager trying to stand his ground.