Down to their final three outs in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series, the San Diego Padres appeared to send the tying run to first base ... only for third base umpire Todd Tichenor to call Jurickson Profar out on a controversial swinging-strike call.

Profar tossed and then kicked his batting helmet in protest, prompting home plate umpire Ted Barrett to eject the outfielder from Friday's contest against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Following the game, Profar remained adamant the decision was wrong.

"It should've been a walk," the utility man said, according to The Associated Press. "I didn't have a really good chance to see (the replay), but I'm pretty sure I didn't go. Maybe the bat was in front, but I was just getting out of the way, and I didn't go. I didn't swing."

Profar did show some contrition for his conduct, though.

"We play a game, and we play with emotion," the 29-year-old added. "We don't play soft. We play to win. I play with emotion. ... But I learn from it."

The switch-hitter also noted that he doesn't expect a suspension, stating "MLB doesn’t suspend people for that."

With Josh Bell leading off the frame with a single off Phillies reliever Seranthony Dominguez - in his second inning of work - Profar already represented the tying run.

The Phillies worked their way out of danger, with Dominguez inducing a pop-up from Trent Grisham followed by a game-ending strikeout of Austin Nola. Dominguez became the first and only Phillies reliever since Tug McGraw to record a six-out save in a postseason game.

While Profar's strikeout was a critical call in a high-leverage moment, he didn't pin the Game 3 loss on it.

"We didn't hit like we're supposed to," he said, according to AJ Cassavell of MLB.com.

Game 4 gets underway at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday with Padres right-hander Mike Clevinger starting opposite Phillies lefty Bailey Falter.