ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon was ejected during the sixth inning of Thursday night's game against Chicago for arguing an umpire's decision.
Maddon contended that the White Sox's Jermaine Dye hit a grounder fair to third base rather than fouled the ball off his foot.Dye hopped and limped out of the batter's box as if the ball hit his foot before rolling up the third base line, where Willy Aybar fielded it and threw to first for the apparent out. Dye complained, asking plate umpire Brian Gorman to look at his left shoe.
The umpire crew huddled briefly, then inspected the ball and ruled it a foul. Television replays appeared to confirm it was the right call.
Maddon argued. At one point he walked toward Dye and gestured at the player's shoe, and Gorman ejected him with the Rays trailing 2-0.
