CINCINNATI (AP) — Reds first baseman Joey Votto was ejected by plate umpire D.J. Reyburn after disagreeing with a called strike in the first inning, his fourth ejection in the past two seasons.
Votto, the NL’s top hitter at .322, took a called third strike to run the count to 1-2 with two outs in the first inning Sunday. Votto said something as he backed away from the batter’s box. He got back in the box and started digging in with his head down, and Reyburn ejected him. Votto raised his arms in surprise.
Votto has a history of arguing calls with umpires. He was ejected twice last season for arguing ball-and-strike calls. Last month, he was ejected in the first inning of a game at Wrigley Field for arguing a called third strike.
