Attention MLB umpires: you might want to give Tampa Bay reliever J.P. Howell the borderline calls from now on.
Howell and three of his Rays teammates were tossed in a crazy eighth inning during Tampa's 5-3 loss to the Cardinals on Friday night. Starter David Price, second baseman Elliot Johnson and manager Joe Maddon joined the lefty reliever in making an early exit from the game.
The issue arose in the top of the eighth, when Howell barely missed the strike zone on a 3-2 pitch that would have ended the inning. Maddon was tossed shortly after for arguing with home plate umpire Vic Carapazza from the dugout.
But it wasn't until two batters later — when Colby Rasmus jacked a three-run shot to right field — that things really broke out at Tropicana Field. As soon as the ball left the yard, Howell chucked his glove to the ground and tossed away the baseball before charging in and yelling at the umpire.
Price and Johnson were also ejected from the game during the scrum.
To watch the Rays' eighth-inning implosion, click here.
