Animated Leyland ejected over call at first base

Animated Leyland ejected over call at first base
Tigers skipper tossed in seventh after umpires confer over play
By Jason Beck / MLB.com | 06/27/11 9:28 PM ET

DETROIT -- The city's annual fireworks display was scheduled for Monday night, but Tigers manager Jim Leyland provided sparks of his own, so to speak.

Leyland was ejected in the seventh inning of Monday's 4-2 win over the Blue Jays after a reversed call at first base set off a lengthy argument with first-base umpire Ed Rapuano and home-plate umpire Alfonso Marquez.

The call in question came on Andy Dirks' bunt that forced a diving stop and shovel pass from Blue Jays second baseman Aaron Hill. After several seconds, Rapuano ruled Dirks safe at first, prompting Toronto manager John Farrell to storm out of the dugout and ask for him to double-check.

Rapuano did, and after conferring with Marquez, reversed his call. As replays showed, Dirks was out, but the conference and reversal set Leyland off. He marched out of the dugout and headed toward Marquez.

Leyland argued vehemently with Marquez, who let him vent for a while until finally ejecting him. Leyland then carried his case down the first-base line with Rapuano. Along the way, he pantomimed Rapuano watching the play in front of him and making a safe signal as the crowd of 25,181 roared their approval.

It wasn't clear whether Leyland was angry at the call itself, Rapuano's positioning when he made the call or the ensuing conference.

Several minutes later, Leyland marched back into the dugout, having earned his first ejection of the season. Hitting coach Lloyd McClendon took over managerial duties.

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.