BOSTON (AP) -Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona was ejected in the first inning Friday night after J.D. Drew’s drive just cleared the wall in left field but wasn’t ruled a home run.
Replays showed the ball Drew hit to the opposite field went over the 37-foot high wall, hit a low protective barrier in front of the first row of seats and bounced back onto the field.
Chicago White Sox left fielder Rob Mackowiak picked up the ball up and relayed it to shortstop Juan Uribe, who threw out Manny Ramirez at home for the third out after David Ortiz had scored to give Boston a 1-0 lead.
The play began with Ortiz, who had walked, on second and Ramirez at first after being hit by a pitch. None of the umpires ran to the outfield to get a closer look at the drive.
Francona was ejected by third base umpire Tim McClelland. The manager then went toward second base umpire Paul Schrieber, but McClelland ran over and got between them, sparking a more animated protest from Francona. The ejection was his third of the year.
Drew has struggled much of the season after signing a five-year contract as a free agent. He has six homers this year, none since June 20, after hitting 20 for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season.
He returned to the lineup Friday night after sitting out his third game of the last six Thursday night with tightness in his right hamstring.
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