Yankees manager Aaron Boone is ejected 5 pitches into a game. He says a fan berated the umpire
NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Boone didn’t tie the record for fastest ejection. The New York Yankees manager did think it was among the most unjust dismissals.
Boone was thrown out of Monday’s 2-0 loss to Oakland five pitches in by Hunter Wendelstedt over a remark the Yankees maintained was yelled by a fan behind the dugout, while the plate umpire said it was something shouted from the far end of New York’s bench.
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“It’s embarrassing,” Boone said. “I couldn’t believe it.”
Esteury Ruiz was hit on the back foot by Carlos Rodón’s slider leading off the game.
Standing on the dugout steps, Boone raised his hands, questioning whether Ruiz swung at the pitch. First base umpire John Tumpane determined Ruiz did not swing and should go to first base.
After a called strike to Tyler Nevin, Wendelstedt removed his mask, took a few steps toward the Yankees’ dugout and could be heard by a YES Network microphone yelling at Boone: “Hey, guess what? You’re not yelling at me. I did what I’m supposed to do and checked! I’m looking for him to get hit by the pitch! You got anything else to say, you’re gone! OK?”
Wendelstedt pointed at Boone as he finished. Boone, leaning on the dugout rail with his left arm, held up his left hand as if to signal OK, then gave the umpire a thumbs-up.
As the umpire put his mask back on and walked behind catcher Shea Langeliers, a fan behind the dugout in a blue shirt appeared to yell at Wendelstedt. The umpire pulled off his mask and demonstratively waved his right arm in an arc, thumb extended, screaming: “Aaron, you’re done! I don’t care who said it. You’re gone!”
Boone ran onto the field and pointed to the fan.
“It was above our dugout!” Boone exclaimed. “I didn’t say anything! I did not say anything!”
Wendelstedt responded: “I don’t care who said it, you’re gone!”
