Brandon Crawford ejected from SF Giants’ game vs. Padres

SAN FRANCISCO — Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford was upset after being called out on a check swing, and it led to an early ejection from Wednesday’s series finale with the Padres.

Third base umpire Ryan Blakney tossed Crawford between the second and third innings after ringing him up on an attempted check swing in the bottom of the second. Crawford threw his hands in the air and stared down the third-base line after being called out, then appeared to continue the discussion upon taking the field the following inning.

Here's the "swing" call Crawford was not happy about pic.twitter.com/SPeAUZeqCL

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) August 31, 2022

Although Crawford was clearly upset at the call, it would be an exaggeration to call his mild-mannered exchange with Blakney an argument — a far cry from manager Gabe Kapler’s screaming match that got him tossed earlier this month.

Crawford was ejected between innings after being rung up on a check swing in the previous half inning pic.twitter.com/5abD9fzpqz

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) August 31, 2022

The ejection was the third of his career for Crawford, who rarely raises his voice from its soft monotone. His earned his first in 2012, when he sarcastically stomped on first base after he was ruled earlier in the game to have missed the bag, and got his second in 2018 after leaving his bat in the dirt in reaction to a called strike three.

On Wednesday, Crawford exchanged words with Blakney for only a few moments, threw his arms in the air again and turned his back, then he was ejected. Later on, other Giants expressed frustration with the umpiring crew.

After Wilmer Flores was called out on strikes to end the fourth, Kapler and some other members of the San Francisco dugout traded barbs with home plate umpire Adrian Johnson, who threw up his arms and walked away. Leading off the fifth, Joc Pederson had to be led back to the dugout by Kapler after arguing balls and strikes with Johnson.

In five innings, the Giants had struck out nine times against San Diego starter Joe Musgrove — two looking.

Thairo Estrada, who started the game at second base, shifted to Crawford’s spot at short, and Wilmer Flores moved from third to second. J.D. Davis entered the game to take Flores’ place at third.

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