CINCINNATI – Reds first baseman Joey Votto was ejected by plate umpire D.J. Reyburn after disagreeing with a called strike in the first inning Sunday, his fourth ejection in the past two seasons.
Votto, the NL's top hitter at .322, took a called strike to run the count to 1-2 with two outs. Votto said something as he backed away from the batter's box. He got back into the box and started digging in with his head down, and Reyburn ejected him. Votto raised his arms in surprise, then dropped his batting helmet on the ground.
Manager Dusty Baker came out of the dugout and talked to Reyburn. Votto yelled at the umpire from several feet away before heading to the dugout.
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.
Baker was suspended for the last two games — along with Cardinals manager Tony La Russa — for their teams' brawl on Tuesday at Great American Ball Park. Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto received a seven-game suspension for kicking several Cardinals during the fight.
Cueto missed his scheduled start Sunday against the Marlins rather than appeal the suspension. Homer Bailey was activated off the disabled list and started in his place.
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