ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Yankees captain Derek Jeter acted his way to first base.
Jeter was awarded the base in the seventh inning of Wednesday night’s 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay when plate umpire Lance Barksdale ruled he was hit on the left arm by reliever Chad Qualls‘ pitch.
Turns out Jeter bluffed his way on base, admitting after the game that the pitch actually hit his bat.
“He told me to go to first base. I’m not going to tell him I’m not going to first, you know,” Jeter said.
Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon was ejected after arguing that call was incorrect.
“If our guys did it, I would have applauded that, too,” Maddon said. “For me it was a ground ball back to the pitcher.”
Maddon argued with Barksdale before leaving the plate area and continuing his discussion with second base umpire and crew chief Tom Hallion behind the mound. Maddon later headed back and argued again with Barksdale, who threw the manager out of the game.
Jeter shook his arm following the pitch, prompting an on-field exam by trainer Gene Monahan.
“I think Geno acted more than I did, I guess,” Jeter said. “It’s part of the game. My job is to get on base.”
The next batter, Curtis Granderson, hit a two-run homer that put the Yankees ahead 3-2.
