Rocco Baldelli (Image Credit: Imagn)
Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli was ejected during the team’s 4-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers in 11 innings on Thursday. The incident happened in the top of the 11th after a controversial foul tip call against catcher Ryan Jeffers. Home-plate umpire John Bacon ruled the ball was caught cleanly, but Baldelli and Jeffers insisted it hit the ground.

Baldelli then stormed out of the dugout, shouting at the umpire, throwing his cap, and kicking dirt near home plate. He wanted the ball checked to see if it had touched the ground, but Bacon refused.

“You f**ked it up, man. You f**ked it up!” the Minnesota Twins manager yelled, which eventually led to his ejection.

“That’s the whole game! It comes down to this f**king moment and you f**ked it,” he shouted before walking away according to the New York Post.

Watch the incident here:

Speaking after the game, Baldelli said he didn’t understand why the umpire wouldn’t take a closer look, especially in such a clutch moment.

“I don’t know why he wouldn’t just look at it,” Baldelli said.

Notably, this marked the 18th ejection of Baldelli’s managerial career, with four of them coming this season.

Minnesota Twins’ Postseason Hopes Grow Bleaker After Loss

Rocco Baldelli (Image Credit: Imagn)
The Twins started strong, scoring three runs in the third inning thanks to Edouard Julien’s home run and Jeffers and Luke Keaschall’s RBIs. But the Tigers fought back, tying the game by the sixth inning. Both teams’ bullpens kept things tight until Detroit pushed across the winning run in the 11th.

The Twins’ offense went quiet after the third inning, with just one hit in the next several innings. Their best chance to tie the game came in the 11th, but Royce Lewis struck out on a check swing to give Detroit a win.

With the loss, the Minnesota Twins dropped to 57-64 on the season and are staring at an early end to their playoff hopes. They will continue the series against the Tigers on Friday.