Carlos Mendoza was furious.
The Mets manager was ejected from a 7-6 series opener against the Rockies at Citi Field on Friday night after arguing with home plate umpire Jeremy Rehak.
With the Mets leading 7-3 in the bottom of the seventh, infielder Jose Iglesias struck out Rehac.
The pitch was a curveball from Rockies pitcher Peter Lambert, thrown high and above the strike zone.
Iglesias quickly expressed his dissatisfaction with the call, but then Mendoza began yelling from the Mets dugout.
Rehak then ejected Mendoza, and the Mets captain came out of the dugout to harshly chastise the umpire.
“I thought they had received a few calls. [for strikes] “I thought it was a ball especially high up in the zone,” Mendoza said after the game. “I thought the last ball was way off.” [of the zone].
“But I know they have a hard job and Jeremy is really good at what he does. I know they’re human beings and they work really hard behind the catcher. I just felt like I needed to express my frustration there.”
The Citi Field crowd cheered Mendoza on while he argued and applauded when he eventually returned to the clubhouse.
Iglesias hit two solo home runs early in the game.
“I was excited all night,” Iglesias said. “That’s what’s special. That’s what it’s all about.”
