Leyland, Brookens ejected from finale vs. Tribe

Leyland, Brookens ejected from finale vs. Tribe
By Jason Beck / MLB.com | 05/24/12 1:42 PM ET

CLEVELAND -- An already frustrating series for the Tigers against the Indians picked up a little more contentiousness on Thursday afternoon, when manager Jim Leyland and first-base coach Tom Brookens were ejected for arguing what they felt was a missed balk in the fifth inning.

The ejections came after Andy Dirks popped out behind first base for the second out of the inning. Replay later suggested that Indians starter Justin Masterson didn't set before delivering the pitch to Dirks while speedster Quintin Berry built his lead off first base.

After the out, Brookens said something to first-base umpire Paul Emmel, who promptly ejected him. Leyland emerged from the dugout to separate the two, then picked up Brookens' argument before Emmel ejected him as well. It was Leyland's second ejection this season.

Hitting coach Lloyd McClendon took over for Leyland as manager. McClendon was back in the dugout on Thursday after being ejected from Wednesday night's game for arguing that a bases-loaded, 3-0 strike to Miguel Cabrera in a tie game was outside. Leyland defended McClendon's reaction after Wednesday's game but said that the pitch wasn't what cost them a win.

Infield coach Rafael Belliard took over at first base.

The Tigers, who were trailing, 2-1, at the time of Thursday's ejections, were trying to avoid a three-game series sweep after losing back-to-back close games in the later innings.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck's Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.