Giants manager Tony Vitello ejected in third incident of the season as San Francisco falls to Royals

San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello was ejected for the third time this season during a contest against the Kansas City Royals on July 22. The incident occurred at Kauffman Stadium following a disputed call by second base umpire Mike Estabrook, who ruled Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino safe at second base.

The play began when Pasquantino hit a double down the right-field line. As he attempted to stand up after being tagged by Giants shortstop Willy Adames, his momentum caused him to stumble. Adames claimed Pasquantino had been pushed off the bag, but Estabrook ruled the play dead due to the contact and called Pasquantino safe. The umpires determined the call was not reviewable, a decision that drew immediate ire from the Giants’ dugout.

Vitello, who is in his first season managing the Giants after previously serving as head coach at the University of Tennessee, argued the non-reviewable call as he walked back to the dugout. Third base umpire Lance Barrett subsequently ejected him. When Vitello asked for the reason behind the ejection, Barrett responded that he had told the manager twice to stop arguing.

Post-game, Vitello denied using any profanity during the exchange. He stated he simply asked if the call could be corrected and remarked, “It’s a big call,” twice. The Giants, who held a 3-0 lead entering the top of the seventh inning, surrendered five runs after the incident, ultimately losing the game 5-4 and extending their losing streak to five matches.

The loss dropped the Giants to a 42-60 record, leaving them with the second-fewest wins in Major League Baseball, just one ahead of the last-place Colorado Rockies. Pitcher Landon Roupp described the umpiring decision as a “stupid call,” while Giants broadcaster Dave Flemming supported the manager’s perspective, calling the ruling “absolutely ridiculous” and one of the worst he had seen in a long time.