NEW YORK (AP) -Jerry Manuel was ejected in the fourth inning of his second home game as New York Mets manager, apparently upset with the strike zone of plate umpire Brian Runge.
Center fielder Carlos Beltran also was thrown out after taking consecutive called strikes from Seattle Mariners knuckleballer R.A. Dickey to lead off the fourth.
After the second strike, Beltran started talking to Runge, who took off his mask and continued the dialogue before he brushed dirt off home plate. Manuel then came out and started arguing with Runge. The umpire appeared to bump into the manager before throwing him out the game.
Manuel walked to the bench as the Shea Stadium crowd roared. Beltran continued the conversation and Runge quickly threw him out the game. An incensed Beltran then got in Runge’s face and had to be held back before Manuel came out to escort him to the dugout.
Manuel was promoted from bench coach to manager after the Mets fired Willie Randolph last week. New York lost 5-2 to Seattle on Monday night in Manuel’s first game at Shea Stadium since the switch.
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