Orioles' Jimenez 'shocked' by ejection in 4th inning vs. Red Sox

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez was curiously ejected from his club's series opener against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Friday after hitting Pablo Sandoval in the shoulder with a pitch during the fourth inning.

Jimenez had not allowed a hit through 3 2/3 scoreless innings when he was tossed by home-plate umpire Jordan Baker - a decision that prompted an incredulous reaction from the 31-year-old right-hander. Caleb Joseph, who started behind the plate Friday in Boston, also voiced his displeasure with the decision before manager Buck Showalter stormed out of the dugout to defend his starter.

"I had three walks," Jimenez said after his club's 3-2 loss. "It's not like I had perfect command of my fastball. I was shocked."

Jimenez's ejection was especially puzzling given no warnings had been issued despite the fact that Sandoval drew the ire of Baltimore's dugout when he took out second baseman Jonathan Schoop with an aggressive slide in the second inning.

Jimenez went on:

That's the thing: (Baker) didn't give me a chance to react or anything. Without any warning. There's no history. I'm cool with Pablo outside of baseball. You can ask him.

Especially against a left-handed hitter, you aren't trying to go down. You are trying to go up.

"Jordan felt that there was intent on the pitch, and the location of the pitch was a major factor," crew chief Jerry Meals told MASN's Roch Kubatko.

Showalter was none too pleased after Friday's game:

I mean, that's the way we play, they play, and inspire both teams to play. It wasn't even a thought. It's kind of professionally a little embarrassing to see that type of thing have such an impact.'

Even Red Sox manager John Farrell didn't expect an ejection:

Honestly, yeah. A little surprised. Because I didn't see anything that would have warranted a hit by pitch. But, obviously, Jordan felt like there was clear intent. And whether or not he felt because it was the hard slide at second base, that I don't know. It was quick.