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McCutchen ejected after slamming bat near ump

Justin Berl / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Pittsburgh Pirates star Andrew McCutchen was ejected from Sunday's showdown with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the seventh inning after slamming his bat in frustration during a heated dispute with home plate umpire Chris Conroy.

With two outs in the seventh, Conroy rung up McCutchen on a borderline pitch from Dodgers right-hander Casey Fien that appeared to enter the zone low. McCutchen was instantly outraged at the call, and was tossed immediately after throwing his bat to the ground in anger.

The pair continued to exchange words after the ejection, with McCutchen pointing at Conroy and appearing to tell him that "the ball was down."

McCutchen told reporters after the Pirates' 4-3 win that he thought he was on the receiving end of a few questionable strikes during the game, including a called strike from Clayton Kershaw in the fifth.

"It wasn't just those two calls," said McCutchen, according to Stephen J. Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Felt like I got taken advantage of that last at-bat; the bat was taken out of my hands. It's one thing to let thing slide. But, honestly, I've let things slide my whole career. I don't want to feel like I'm being stepped over. I don't want to feel like I'm being taken advantage of. So, honestly, it felt like I had to take matters into my own hands and speak my piece."

The late ejection - the first of his career - capped another frustrating day for McCutchen, who looked to be on the verge of breaking out of his slump after smacking two homers in Saturday's victory. The Pirates center fielder went hitless in four at-bats with a pair of strikeouts.

(Video courtesy: MLB.com)

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