DETROIT — It was another big day on the job for emerging closer Kirby Yates. The 37-year-old helped the Texas Rangers pitch 1 1/3 scoreless innings against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday, earning them a 9-7 victory.
“Wow, what a great job,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “Unfortunately, I had a chance to see it on TV.”
Bochy, who turned 69 on Tuesday, was ejected by home plate umpire Todd Tichenor in the bottom of the eighth inning. Rangers right fielder Adris Garcia, with two outs and runners on first and second base in the top of the fifth inning, thought he fouled Detroit's Shelby Miller's splitter. The ball bounced down the third base line while Garcia hesitated to leave the batter's box. Detroit third baseman Gio Urshela also hesitated to throw to first base until he realized that third base umpire Manny Gonzalez had called it a fair ball.
With the Rangers leading 8-7 at this point in the game, Urshela threw out Garcia at first base, leaving two runners on base.
“I saw a foul, and then I saw Dori, and he saw a foul, and the third baseman didn't make a play, he saw a foul,” Bochy said. “There's just frustration there, it's a big play. Maybe I said something I shouldn't have said, but I can't say it here.”
It was Bochy's 83rd ejection as a manager and his first of the season.
“It's time to take a timeout,” Bochy said.
Read more of the Dallas Morning News' Rangers coverage here.
