NEW YORK -- Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez left Tuesday night's game early
even for him, as he was ejected by home-plate umpire John Hirschbeck for
throwing equipment after he was called out on strikes to end the top of the
fifth inning against the Mets.

"Five and fly -- just like a pitcher," joked Ramirez, who was run for the fifth
time in his career.

Ramirez had already singled twice and driven in three runs in the Dodgers' 8-0
victory over the Mets at Citi Field. But he also was called out on strikes in
the first inning when he thought he had walked. He turned around and held his
hands a foot apart as he told Hirschbeck he thought the pitch was outside.
Replays showed it caught the corner.

"The first time, I came in and looked at the replay and it was a strike, so the
next at-bat I told him, 'My bad, it was a strike.' And he told me, 'Thanks for
that,'" said Ramirez.

When Hirschbeck called him out to end the fifth with the bases loaded, Ramirez
flipped his bat and helmet toward the Dodgers' third-base dugout. Then as he
walked toward the outfield, he unfastened the straps of his arm protector and
without looking flipped it behind him in the direction of Hirschbeck. It landed
near home plate and Hirschbeck ejected him. Replays showed the pitch was
outside.

"The other at-bat, he made a mistake," Ramirez said. "I think it's a ball. I
just threw my pad and walked to the field. I was coming out in the fifth anyway,
so no big deal."

Juan Pierre took over in left field in the bottom of the fifth inning, as he did
for Ramirez in the sixth inning Friday night and Saturday in Ramirez's first two
games after returning from a 50-game suspension for violating the Major League
Baseball drug policy. Ramirez did not start Sunday's game and only pinch-hit.

Was Ramirez, who seemed to be heading to his left-field position when ejected,
really coming out after five innings?

"He told me that, too," said manager Joe Torre. "I wasn't aware of that. It was
about the time to ask him, but I didn't need to tonight."

Torre said umpires previously only fined players for throwing equipment.

"John didn't see it, but he heard the fan reaction and saw it laying there,"
Torre said. "He said he can't have that. I think Manny was frustrated by the
fact the bases were loaded."

Ramirez also disagreed with a strike call in a game in San Diego last week, but
Torre didn't necessarily see that as a bad sign.

"I don't think there's a growing sense of frustration," he said. "He's getting
back into the competitive mode. I still think he's uneasy. I think the fact he's
been away calls attention to it.

"Booing from the fans, he's used to. Even without the suspension, it's the kind
of reaction he gets, especially since the Red Sox back and forth. No question,
the fans have more ammunition. But he's able to block stuff out."

Ramirez downplayed the reaction he received, which included signs of syringes
and other digs at his suspension for violating MLB's drug policy.

"The fans have been great to me, especially in L.A.," he said. "They've been the
same. I just go play my game and move on. That's what I got to do."

Source: Ken Gurnick / MLB.com