In a dramatic turn of events at Fenway Park on Friday night, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone and veteran infielder DJ LeMahieu were ejected during the 10th inning of a tense 2–1 loss to the Boston Red Sox. The ejections followed a controversial foul ball call that ignited a fiery exchange between the Yankees and the umpiring crew.
The Controversial Call
The incident began in the top of the 10th inning when LeMahieu hit a ball down the first-base line that was initially ruled foul. The Yankees believed it was a fair ball and challenged the call, but after MLB’s replay review, the ruling stood as a foul. Boone reacted furiously to the upheld call, angrily confronting the umpires and spitting out his gum in frustration, leading to his ejection. Later, LeMahieu was also ejected after making a comment to first-base umpire Jeremie Rehak following an inning-ending groundout.
Boone’s Reaction
Following the game, Boone criticized the umpires, accusing them of lacking the “courage” to make the right calls during crucial moments of the game. He expressed his frustration over what he perceived as inconsistent officiating, particularly during high-stakes situations.
LeMahieu’s First-Ever Ejection
LeMahieu, known for his calm demeanor, was visibly surprised by his first-ever ejection in his 1,651-game career. He claimed he only said, “That was a brutal call” to first-base umpire Jeremie Rehak after grounding out in the top of the 10th inning. His ejection highlighted the heightened emotions and tensions that escalated during the game.
Game Summary
The game itself was a pitching duel, with both teams struggling offensively. Boston secured the win in the 10th inning when former Yankee Carlos Narváez delivered the game-winning RBI single, scoring David Hamilton. The Yankees had tied the game in the ninth with a solo home run by Aaron Judge, his 26th of the season, after striking out in his previous three at-bats. Despite the Yankees’ strong effort and multiple scoring opportunities, they were unable to capitalize.
Boone’s Ejection Record
This incident adds to Boone’s history of ejections. In 2023, he was ejected for the fifth time that season after arguing balls and strikes in a game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Boone’s five ejections topped major league managers that season, one more than Minnesota’s Rocco Baldelli, Cincinnati’s David Bell, and San Diego’s Bob Melvin. He led the majors with nine ejections in 2022, when no other manager had more than five.
Leave a Reply