masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgBOSTON – Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez was ejected from tonight’s game with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning after hitting Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval on the right shoulder.
Plate umpire Jordan Baker, in his second season as a full-time umpire, didn’t issue any warnings. He simply moved around the plate and motioned that Jimenez had been tossed.
Jimenez, as mild-mannered as they come, raised both arms in protest and manager Buck Showalter raced out of the dugout. Another…

BOSTON – Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez was ejected from tonight’s game with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning after hitting Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval on the right shoulder.

Plate umpire Jordan Baker, in his second season as a full-time umpire, didn’t issue any warnings. He simply moved around the plate and motioned that Jimenez had been tossed.

jimenez-back-gray-pitching-sidebar.jpgJimenez, as mild-mannered as they come, raised both arms in protest and manager Buck Showalter raced out of the dugout. Another bizarre moment at Fenway Park. It’s easy to lose count.

Jimenez didn’t allow a hit in 3 2/3 innings, but he walked three batters. He’s thrown 10 2/3 scoreless innings in two starts, with only one hit.

Sandoval slid wide and hard into second baseman Jonathan Schoop on a force play in the second inning, a play that must have stuck in Baker’s mind.

Showalter talked to crew chief Jerry Meals as Jimenez’s replacement, Kevin Gausman, warmed in the bullpen. Gausman retired Mike Napoli on a grounder to short.

Jimenez threw 59 pitches and left with a 1-0 lead. The margin grew to 2-0 in the top of the fifth when Caleb Joseph led off with his first home run of the season, the ball reaching the first row of seats in the right field corner.

The call was confirmed after a crew chief review.

Who’s reviewing Baker’s credentials as a plate umpire?

Update: Ryan Hanigan hit a two-run homer off Gausman in the fifth to tie the game.

The Orioles bullpen has been scored upon in all 10 games.

Update II: Xander Bogaerts blooped a single into right field off Tommy Hunter with one out in the ninth to score Mike Napoli and give Boston a 3-2 win.

Napoli drew a leadoff walk against Brian Matusz and took second on Daniel Nava’s sacrifice bunt.