It normally isn’t news when a minor league baseball umpire ejects a manager from a game for arguing a call.
However, an ejection involving a New York Yankees affiliate on Friday made history.
Rachel Balkovec, manager of the Tampa Tarpons in the Florida State League, was ejected Friday night for the first time this season. It also just so happens that the umpire who ejected her is also a woman.
The issue arose over a disputed call at first base in the game between the Tarpons and Cincinnati Reds affiliate Daytona Tortugas. With Tampa down 1-0 in the eighth inning, Balkovec felt that the Daytona first baseman’s foot came off the bag on a double play and should not have been an out.
Balkovec argued the call and was ejected from the game by field umpire Isabella Robb at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
The good news for Balkovec is that, after her ejection, the Tarpons rallied and eventually won the game, 4-3.
The 36-year-old is currently in her second season as manager of the Tarpons. Last year, she became the first woman to be hired as the full-time manager for a Major League Baseball team affiliate in the minor leagues.
[AP News]
