Gardner charges umpire after getting ejected

Brett Gardner's displeasure with major-league umpires continued Friday, as the New York Yankees outfielder got into a heated exchange with home plate umpire Chris Segal.

Gardner was ejected from the dugout in the fourth inning of his team's 8-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. After some initial confusion as to who was given their marching orders, he entered the field and charged at Segal but was restrained by Yankees manager Aaron Boone.

The incident came moments after Cameron Maybin was called out on a third strike that appeared to be low. TV cameras showed Gardner banging his bat into the dugout's ceiling following his teammate's strikeout.

The 35-year-old was initially unaware that he was being tossed from the contest and maintained postgame that he didn't say anything to the umpire that warranted an ejection.

"When Booney went out there, I had no idea I had been tossed," Gardner said, according to YES Network. "Maybe 30 seconds goes by and somebody tells me I had been tossed, and at that point, I went out there to talk to him to tell him I didn't say anything, that he got it wrong. Then he looked at me and told me he saw me say something, which made me mad because he was lying."

Gardner then voiced his displeasure with how rarely umpires are held culpable for making these sorts of mistakes.

"No accountability whatsoever; probably doesn't have to talk to anybody about it, unfortunately. He wanted me out of the game and that was that," the veteran added. "I don't understand it. Didn't then, still don't. It's not right."

The dustup was similar to one that occurred in New York on July 18 when Gardner banged his bat against the dugout ceiling after striking out on a questionable call against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Boone was tossed from that game for arguing balls and strikes, which led to his infamous quote about the Yankees being "f------ savages in that f------ box."