Reyes ejected after called third strike
Mets shortstop Jose Reyes reacts after he was called out on strikes by umpire Laz Diaz in the seventh inning. Reyes was ejected moments later after throwing his helmet and bat. (May 10, 2010) Credit: Christopher Pasatieri
For the second straight game, a key Met got ejected after looking at strike three in a key moment of a close game.
Jose Reyes got the heave-ho last night after watching a low strike called with two on in the seventh inning and the Mets trailing by a run.
"I think it was a little low, but for [plate umpire Laz Diaz], no," said Reyes, who threw his bat down and then his helmet before getting tossed. David Wright was ejected in the ninth inning of Sunday's loss to the Giants.
"When you do that - throw your bat and your helmet - I mean, they're going to throw whoever out," Reyes said. "So I expected that. I got caught up in the moment. I don't want an umpire to throw me out of any game."
Jerry Manuel also was thrown out by Diaz for arguing.
Manuel had no problem with his No. 3 hitter getting tossed in a tight game. "It doesn't bother me when a guy is passionate about what he does," he said.
Alex Cora came in and performed well. He knocked down a ball up the middle with two on in the ninth and made a flip from his belly to second for the third out, then singled with two outs to represent the tying run in the last of the ninth.
Blanco with ailing mother
Henry Blanco returned to Venezuela to be with his ill mother Sunday, and Manuel had no timetable for the catcher's return. "His mother's very ill and he felt it necessary that he be there," he said. "It's our organizational policy that we give him the freedom to take care of that situation. How long it will be, I don't really know."
Being on the bereavement list means Blanco can be away from the team for three to seven days.
