VIDEO: Reds' Votto explodes at umpire after ejection

After striking out twice earlier in the game, Joey Votto was already having a frustrating night against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In the eighth inning, the Cincinnati Reds first baseman was ejected by home plate umpire Bill Welke after disagreeing with a called strike ... and the 2010 NL MVP didn't take it very well.

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

"My understanding ... was that Joey had asked for time and had been denied time and that's when Joey looked in at me and that's when I went out there," Reds manager Bryan Price told reporters after the game. "That's how things got started.

"I think more than anything, the argument was that when you call time out, you should be granted time out. That got the ball rolling."

The Reds went on to lose the game by a score of 5-4.

The 32-year-old is in the midst of another incredible season at the plate, batting .316/.460/.559 with 27 home runs.