MLB fans wanted to know what happened to Brandon Crawford after the Giants shortstop was rather bizarrely ejected vs the Padres on Wednesday (31 August).
The San Francisco Giants suffered a 5-4 loss on Wednesday afternoon in the series finale vs the San Diego Padres. It is the second time this season they have been swept by their National League West rivals and leaves them with a 61-68 record.
The Giants are now on a seven-game losing streak. Whatever slim chance they had in the race for the National League Wild Card was effectively ended as they are now 10.5 games behind the Padres for the third NL Wild Card spot.
What happened to Brandon Crawford during the game?
Tensions were obvious growing among the Giants, which spilled over as shortstop Brandon Crawford was rather remarkably ejected while playing defense.
Crawford wasejected by third-base umpire Ryan Blakney in between the second and third innings after arguing a check-swing call in his first at-bat of the game against Joe Musgrove.
When Crawford walked out to take his position before the next inning, he evidently wanted to discuss the call, but Blakney wasn’t interested.
Crawford continued to argue, and clearly said enough for Blakney to eject the shortstop, doing so while Crawford had his back turned.
I didn’t see it, I heard it,” Crawford later added.
“I had no idea until I turned around after I’d thrown all my warm-up pitches,” said starter Alex Wood
Crawford admits he was surprised ‘how quick it happened’
The veteran infielder has been ejected third times during his career, but this was undoubtedly the most unusual.
“I was surprised how quick it happened,” Crawford said after the 5-4 loss (via MLB). “Basically, I wanted to talk to him about the check swing call. I obviously didn’t agree with it. I brought up a (strike) call from last night that he didn’t want to talk about and I still wanted to. … He said we’re not talking about it. I basically said why not, in so many words.”
Manager Gabe Kapler said afterward that he believed Crawford’s reputation should have earned him more leeway.
“He’s one of the more in-control individuals that I’ve been around,” Kapler said. “I think it’s good to have a little grace there and give a guy who rarely barks and doesn’t complain a little extra rope. I didn’t think it was necessary.”
Kapler credited his group for continuing to fight in the end, but admitted the team just doesn’t have enough right now.
“We’re demonstrating the fight that we need, we’re demonstrating the effort that we need, we’re demonstrating the pre-game routine that we need,” he said. “It’s not enough right now. We’re not winning baseball games and that’s all that matters.