NewsJones, Cox, O'Flaherty ejected in finale
Seventh-inning fireworks center around 0-2 pitch to Drew
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
06/21/09 7:28 PM ET
BOSTON -- When Chipper Jones uncharacteristically lost his cool on Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park, he was bothered by home-plate umpire Bill Hohn's strike zone and further incensed by what he perceived as Hohn's desire to stage a confrontation with Braves left-handed reliever Eric O'Flaherty."He went looking for O'Flaherty," Jones said after he, Braves manager Bobby Cox and O'Flaherty were all ejected during the seventh inning of the Red Sox's 6-5 win.
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Once O'Flaherty was ejected, a heated Jones began yelling and pointing in the direction of Hohn. Blocked just by Cox, who had already seen his all-time ejection record total increased to 145, Atlanta's third baseman was only truly subdued when Braves hitting coach Terry Pendleton grabbed him and directed him back toward the dugout.
"I never cussed at him until after I got thrown out," Jones said. "Then I had some choice words. I don't know why umpires have to be confrontational. When he goes back and looks at a replay of the pitch, hopefully he can admit that he missed that pitch."
After Hohn ruled that O'Flaherty's 0-2 fastball to J.D. Drew was low and inside, Drew directed the next pitch off the left-field wall for an RBI single that gave the Red Sox a 5-4 lead.
"I don't know why umpires miss strikes," Cox said. "I'll never understand that. I know [Major League Baseball] is on them. They won't let them call them a half-inch outside or anything. But when they're right down the middle ... Drew was taking off. He thought it was strike three."
As Cox was walking toward the mound to make a pitching change, O'Flaherty said that he looked at Hohn and said, "How can you miss that pitch? It's right down the middle."
After saying this three or four times, the left-handed reliever found himself earning his first career ejection.
Jones, who was given his sixth career ejection and first since 2007, had words with Hohn after the veteran ump called him out on strikes during the first inning. But Jones said his outburst was primarily a product of his belief that the veteran umpire was attempting to incite O'Flaherty.
"I hope that MLB looks at how this game was officiated, and it wasn't just aimed at us," Jones said. "I saw a bunch of Red Sox with puzzled looks, too."
Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
