Projo Sox Blog

It looked like Jacoby Ellsbury had made a flashy heads-up play, and snuck in safely at home while fellow baserunner Mark Kotsay was distracting the Royals in a rundown between first and second.

Home plate umpire Derryl Cousins didn't agree.

Cousins called Ellsbury out at home, maintaining that Royals catcher Miguel Olivo had successfully made the tag on a sliding Ellsbury.

Ellsbury leapt up and launched his helmet into the ground, yelling something at Cousins. Cousins immediately ejected the Boston centerfielder.

Ellsbury had been on third base, and Kotsay at first, with one out and Nick Green at the plate in the fifth inning of a scoreless game. Pitcher Brian Bannister threw a ball into the dirt, and Kotsay took off for second as Olivo mishandled the ball. But Olivo quickly corralled it, and Kotsay was soon caught in a rundown.

The swift Ellsbury took advantage of the chance and tore home, seemingly sliding in under Olivo's tag. But Cousins didn't see it that way, calling Ellsbury out at home and leading to the ejection.

Manager Terry Francona came out of the dugout and argued vehemently on Ellsbury's behalf, to no avail. He at least managed to make his point without being tossed from the game, avoiding his third ejection of the season. Ellsbury joins Mike Lowell, Jason Varitek, hitting coach Dave Magadan, and Francona on the list of Sox players ejected this season.

Rocco Baldelli took over in centerfield.

 Tags  Boston Red Sox Dan Barbarisi Jacoby Ellsbury Mark Kotsay Terry Francona

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