Changing times: Minor league manager Balkovec ejected -- by female ump

TAMPA, Fla. — In some ways, it was a typical argument between a minor league manager and an umpire.

In another, nothing ordinary at all.

Rachel Balkovec, former University of New Mexico softball player and skipper of the New York Yankees’ affiliate in the Florida State League, was ejected Friday night for the first time this season. And the ump who threw her out of the game is also a woman.

A disputed call at first base — and a sign of some changing times in professional baseball.

With her Class A Tampa Tarpons trailing 1-0 in the eighth inning against the Daytona Tortugas, a Cincinnati Reds farm team, Balkovec thought the Daytona first baseman’s foot came off the bag on a double play.

Balkovec argued the out call and was tossed by field umpire Isabella Robb before a crowd of 791 at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

In the low minors, games are often officiated by only two umps: one behind the plate and the other in the field.

Not long after Balkovec was ejected, Tampa rallied for four runs in the bottom of the ninth to win 4-3.

Balkovec, who turns 36 next week, is in her second season managing the Tarpons. Last year she became the first woman to be the full-time manager for a minor league affiliate of a Major League Baseball team.

MLB Saturday

METS 4, GIANTS 1: In New York, Justin Verlander pitched seven steady innings for his first victory in nearly six weeks and slumping rookie Francisco Álvarez hit the first of three quick homers that powered the Mets .

Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Lindor launched back-to-back shots as the Mets went deep three times in a span of four batters against Anthony DeSclafani (4-8) in the third.

Tommy Pham added an RBI double off Sean Manaea in the fourth, and New York (37-46) opened July with a much-needed win after going 6-19 in its previous 25 games.

The 40-year-old Verlander (3-4) gave up five hits, struck out six and didn’t allow an earned run for his 248th victory and first since May 21 against Cleveland.

PHILLIES 19, NATIONALS 4: In Philadelphia, Alec Bohm homered twice and tied his career high with six RBIs, and Philadelphia scored its most runs in five years in winning for the sixth time in eight games and for the 12th time in 16.

Kyle Schwarber had a grand slam, and Nick Castellanos homered, singled and doubled with three RBIs for the Phillies, who scored their most runs since beating Miami 20-1 on April 7, 2018.

Zack Wheeler (7-4) won his fourth straight decision, giving up four runs and seven hits in five innings.

MacKenzie Gore (4-7) allowed seven runs, six hits and three walks in 2 2/3 innings. Amos Willingham, Joe La Sorsa and Thaddeus Ward gave up four runs each. Dominic Smith homered for Washington.

BRAVES 7, MARLINS 0: In Atlanta, Ronald Acuña and Ozzie Albies homered as part of a six-run first inning to lead Atlanta as Miami’s Luis Arraez, the major league batting leader, saw his average dip to .388.

Charlie Morton (8-6) struck out five in 5 2/3 innings and scattered four hits and one walk in winning his third consecutive start. The Braves have won 23 of their last 27 games and lead the second-place Marlins by eight games in the NL East.

Arraez went 1 for 4. He is 3 for 16 over last four games and his .388 average is his lowest since June 17.

PADRES 12, REDS 5: In Cincinnati, Juan Soto hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the sixth inning, Manny Machado followed three pitches later with the first of his two home runs and San Diego stopped a six-game losing streak.

San Diego (38-45) had fallen eight games below .500 for the first time since ending 2019 at 70-92. Cincinnati (44-39), which has surged into the NL Central lead, lost for just the fourth time in 19 games.

RED SOX 7, BLUE JAYS 6: In Toronto, Rafael Devers hit his 20th home run, Justin Turner homered and scored three times as Boston spoiled Canada Day celebrations in Toronto.

Right fielder Alex Verdugo threw out Bo Bichette at home plate for the final out of the game after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit an RBI single off Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen. George Springer scored on the play, but Bichette was tagged out by catcher Caleb Hamilton. Toronto’s challenge was unsuccessful.

RANGERS 5, ASTROS 2: In Arlington, Texas, Nathan Eovaldi (10-3) pitched seven scoreless innings to become the American League’s second 10-game winner and AL West-leading Texas beat second-place Houston.

Rangers reliever Joe Barlow gave up Kyle Tucker’s two-run homer with two outs in the ninth. Will Smith then came on to get the final out for his 15th save in 16 chances.

TWINS 1, ORIOLES 0: In Baltimore, Bailey Ober allowed two hits over seven innings, Joey Gallo homered and Minnesota extended Baltimore’s losing streak to a season-high four games.

Ober (5-4) gave up a second-inning single to Gunnar Henderson, hit Ryan O’Hearn with a pitch in the fourth and yielded a single to Anthony Santander in the seventh. Those were the only runners to reach base. as the right-hander struck out eight and did not allow a runner past first.

Ober prevailed in a pitching duel with former New Mexico State Aggie Kyle Bradish (4-4), who gave up one run and seven hits over six innings.

CARDINALS 11, YANKEES 4: In St. Louis, Paul Goldschmidt hit a go-ahead, three-run homer off Luis Severino in a five-run third and Jack Flaherty pitched six shutout innings to lead the Cardinals in game one of a rain-interrupted doubleheader opener.

Goldschmidt had four RBIs and Nolan Gorman also homered for St. Louis, which reached double-digit runs for the first time since May 21.

ATHLETICS 7, WHITE SOX 6, (10 inn.): In Oakland, Calif., Tyler Wade slid into home with the winning run after second baseman Elvis Andrus misplayed a 10th-inning grounder, giving Oakland a victory over Chicago.

Shintaro Fujinami (4-7) worked around a hit batter in the top of the 10th, striking out two. Seth Brown homered for the A’s and JJ Bleday had two RBIs.

BREWERS 11, PIRATES 8: In Pittsburgh, Corbin Burnes carried a perfect game into the sixth inning, Christian Yelich hit his 10th home run and Milwaukee survived a late rally to end Pittsburgh’s four-game winning streak.

Yelich hit a three-run homer in the second off Johan Oviedo (3-9) to break it open. Former Albuquerque Isotope Raimel Tapia had two hits, including his third home run, for Milwaukee. Willy Adames, Blake Perkins and Brian Anderson had two hits apiece for the Brewers.

Note

HOME RUN DERBY: Tampa Bay Rays All-Star left fielder Randy Arozarena will participate in the 2023 Home Run Derby, he announced Saturday on social media.

Arozarena is the fourth announced participant in the eight-man July 10 contest at T-Mobile Park, joining Mariners’ center fielder Julio Rodríguez, Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts.

Arozarena has 15 home runs so far this season, second on the Rays behind Jose Siri, who has 16.