Orioles manager Craig Albernaz is ejected for first time in career

PITTSBURGH — Chris Bassitt, the veteran starter the Orioles signed to stabilize the bottom of their rotation, was already out of the game.

Manager Craig Albernaz soon followed him.

Baltimore’s first-time skipper was ejected for the first time in his major league career in the third inning Sunday as bad went to worse for the Orioles.

Bassitt had conceded six runs in two innings, and left-hander Cade Povich, who likely should’ve started Monday’s game, entered in relief. And, with little to no offensive punch, Albernaz let home plate umpire James Jean hear it after the first pitch to Blaze Alexander came in sooner than Alexander expected.

Against right-hander Braxton Ashcraft, Alexander dug into the box and quickly raised his hand to Jean, arguing he wasn’t ready.

The dispute stemmed from a disagreement over how quickly Ashcraft pitched before the batter was fully set, Albernaz said. A batter must be in the box and engaged with the pitcher — making eye contact — with eight seconds or more remaining on the pitch clock. A pitcher can’t begin his motion before a batter is ready.

Albernaz said the fast release from Ashcraft was an issue before Alexander’s plate appearance. It happened twice to Leody Taveras, he said, and time wasn’t called on either occassion.

“We knew Ashcraft,” Albernaz said. “He likes to work fast. He kind of, I wouldn’t say quick-pitched [Samuel] Basallo in his first at-bat, but Basallo felt like he wasn’t ready. The Leody at-bat, he asked for time twice and he wasn’t granted time. When Leody walked by, he gave me that nugget, and then I watched what happened with Blaze, and that’s when it kind of like got me over the edge pretty much.”

It’s hard to discern whether Ashcraft began his delivery too soon, but Alexander certainly didn’t think the pitch should’ve counted. He dropped his bat from his shoulder and watched the strike.

“I just looked at the umpire and wanted a little bit more time, just kind of get set,” Alexander said. “Things happen. Shoutout to Alby, having our back there and fighting for us there. I just felt like we need a little bit more time to set. I mean, I know it might be Ashcraft’s game, quick-pitching and stuff. But, just again, give us a little bit more time to get set. That’s really it.”

Albernaz began chirping from the dugout, and soon Jean ejected the manager. Albernaz then argued his case on the field for a minute before heading down the dugout steps and into the clubhouse.

It was a challenging series in Pittsburgh. The Pirates swept the Orioles.

This article has been updated.