Ejection Night: 4 Tigers Tossed Against Angels, Win Streak Ends

DETROIT (AP) — Unhappy because they felt the calls weren't being made evenly, the Detroit Tigers expressed their displeasure — several times.

Victor Martinez and J.D. Martinez were ejected, along with manager Brad Ausmus and hitting coach Wally Joyner in a series of balls-and-strikes disputes as the Tigers' five-game winning streak ended Saturday night in a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.

Victor Martinez argued with plate umpire Mike Everitt after taking strike one in the third inning. Martinez was tossed after about 30 seconds, then put his hands behind his back to continue the debate. He later flipped his helmet onto the field from the bench.

"It was just simply that we didn't like some of the pitches being called strikes on us, and it felt like we weren't getting them called when our pitcher was on the mound," Ausmus said. "So it's not necessarily that we didn't think every pitch that was called a strike wasn't a strike, but we'd like the same pitches called for us."

Everitt spoke briefly to a pool reporter following the game.

"All of the players, as well as the manager and coach, were warned, and sometimes more than once or twice," Everitt said. "I will be filing my report with the Commissioner's office in New York."

Kaleb Cowart hit his second career home run and C.J. Cron added an RBI single for the Angels.

After Ian Kinsler struck out looking in the fifth, Joyner was ejected from the dugout by Everitt. Joyner came out to argue, Ausmus followed and was tossed, too.

In the sixth, J.D. Martinez was called out, looked back at Everitt and was ejected.

"I've never been ejected in a game," Martinez said. "I just told him he's having a bad day. Everyone has bad days."

Jhoulys Chacin (4-6) threw four scoreless innings and struck out five for the win. Fernando Salas closed for his fifth save.

"His relief picked up where he left off, in his last start against the Yankees," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "That's really encouraging. He's matched up well with these guys. He pitched a great game against them in Anaheim early in the season. He pitched four strong innings.

Rookie Michael Fulmer (10-5) gave up three runs in the third.

"I don't know if he had quite the same stuff we saw early in the year," Scioscia said. "As far as his command he was up in the zone and got behind a lot of hitters, needed a lot of pitches to get through five."

Kinsler hit a leadoff homer in the first inning. Andrew Romine, who replaced J.D. Martinez, drove in Miguel Cabrera with a grounder in the eighth.

SECOND TIME

Cowart's first career hit was a home run in a 15-3 loss to Toronto on Aug. 22, 2015.

EJECTION NIGHT

It was the fourth career ejection for Victor Martinez, the first for J.D. Martinez, the 10th for Ausmus and the second for Joyner as a coach.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Angels: Scioscia said 3B Yunel Escobar's concussion symptoms are stabilizing and he could return to some baseball activities early next week. "There won't be a rehab assignment, but he's going to need a couple days, I think, to make sure he's ready, Scioscia said. Escobar was placed on the seven-day disabled list Aug. 20.

Tigers: RHP Jordan Zimmermann (neck) started an injury rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Toledo Friday night, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out one in 3 2/3 scoreless innings.

UP NEXT

Angels: LHP Tyler Skaggs (1-3) will make his first career appearance at Comerica Park.

Tigers: RHP Anibal Sanchez (7-12) will make his 30th overall appearance and 22nd start of the season. Sanchez has recorded a quality start in each of his four home starts since the All-Star break.