April 6 (UPI) -- Rookie manager Tony Vitello left the dugout and was promptly ordered to head to the clubhouse, drawing his first career MLB ejection in a San Francisco Giants loss to the New York Mets.
The exchange occurred in the seventh inning of the 5-2 setback Sunday in San Francisco. Vitello, who was hired in October, later admitted that he "probably" deserved the dismissal over a disputed out at first base.
"The umpire couldn't have been better with balls and strikes," Vitello told reporters. "I'm sure he got it, exactly, technically, right. But it's a play that I've got a lot of history for, and I was a little frustrated about something else that occurred in the game."
The Giants led 2-1 entering the bottom of the seventh inning. Right fielder Jung Hoo Lee lined out to start the half inning. Designated hitter Jerar Encarnacion settled in for the next exchange with relief pitcher Huascar Brazoban.
Encarnacion hit Brazoban's lone offering -- a 97.4-mph slider -- a few feet to the left of the batter's box. Brazoban left the mound and fielded the ball off the ground with his right hand. He threw to first baseman Mark Vientos, who dropped the ball.
