SAN FRANCISCO — First-year manager Tony Vitello was ejected for the first time in his major-league career on Sunday, during the San Francisco Giants’ 5-2 loss to the New York Mets.
Vitello, who was the head coach at the University of Tennessee last season, argued with home plate umpire Edwin Jimenez and third base umpire David Rackley in the seventh inning after Jerar Encarnacion was ruled out for running inside the designated lane on his way to first base. Encarnacion hit a slow roller that reliever Huascar Brazoban grabbed and threw to Vientos, who dropped the ball, with the Giants leading, 2-1.
“I was trying to give a correct answer to the umpire’s explanation,” Vitello said after the loss, his club’s third in a row. “I think I was basically just stating the rules at home plate. And I said one last thing out of frustration, or being all fired up, and it was complete nonsense.
“I think it was misinterpreted a little bit. But if you’re on the field that long, and you’re not a player, you’re probably out of place a little bit.”
Vitello likely isn’t the only person in and around the Giants who is frustrated. San Francisco is now 3-7 on the season, and Sunday’s loss pushed the Giants to just 1-6 at home. They opened the season last month with a three-game sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees.
“I didn’t watch the replay,” Vitello said of the play at first base. “Like I said, I saw it from a great angle. The umpire couldn’t have been better with balls and strikes. I’m sure he got it, technically, right. But it’s a play that I’ve got a lot of history for, and I was a little frustrated.”
In the following inning, pinch-hitter Luis Torrens keyed New York’s four-run rally with a two-run double and the Mets eventually turned to their bullpen to secure the win.
Jorge Polanco doubled off Keaton Winn (0-1) with one out in the eighth and then pinch-runner Tyrone Taylor moved to third on Luis Robert Jr.’s single.
Left-hander Erik Miller replaced Winn, and Torrens batted for Jared Young, who went 3 for 3. After Robert stole second, Torrens poked his double down the right-field line to give New York a 3-2 edge.
Mark Vientos followed with a hard-hit infield single and Torrens scored on third baseman Matt Chapman’s throwing error. Marcus Semien capped the rally with a double down the left-field line to knock in Vientos.
On Monday, Vitello will send right-hander Adrian Houser (0-1) to the mound, as the Giants open up another home series, this time against righty Andrew Painter (1-0) and the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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