OAKLAND, Calif. – James Loney did not hide his feelings about home plate umpire Paul Nauert, who tossed the Tampa Bay Rays first baseman in the sixth Saturday when Loney dropped his helmet on home plate after looking at a called third strike to end the inning.
Loney, who dropped his bat first, had to be restrained by Rays manager Kevin Cash, third base coach Charlie Montoyo and first base coach Rocco Baldelli before he eventually left the field in a game the Rays won 5-4 with their first ninth inning rally of the season.
“I thought it was a ball when I took it, but I was still like, ‘I struck out.