Rays manager Kevin Cash got tossed in the second inning against the Rangers after arguing balls and strikes with the home plate umpire. The situation was tense, with two runners on base and no outs. Adolis García was at the plate with a 2-1 count. The next two pitches were both called strikes, ending the at-bat and stranding the runners. García didn’t agree with either call, and neither did Cash.
Hot mics caught Cash yelling from the dugout before the ump finally had enough and tossed him. Cash made his way onto the field, shouting that the pitch was obviously off the plate and that missing the call cost them a chance at a big inning. He pointed out the obvious stakes: a walk there loads the bases with no outs. The ump didn’t engage much, aside from the awkward ejection motion that looked more like a shoulder stretch than a definitive toss.
Despite the early drama, the Rays did manage to score one run later in the inning. Still, Cash’s argument didn’t change anything, and the original call stood. The calls weren’t perfect, but arguing balls and strikes never ends well for a manager. The moment passed quickly, and the game moved on.