Saturday, May 16, 2009

Angels' Lackey ejected after 2 pitches

Angels starter John Lackey was ejected after throwing only two pitches in his season debut Saturday.

The first pitch thrown by Lackey, activated from the disabled list to start the game, went behind the head of Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler, who homered twice Friday night. The next pitch hit Kinsler in the side of his upper body. Home plate umpire Bob Davidson immediately ejected Lackey.

Manager Mike Scioscia argued at length with Davidson and crew chief Tim Tschida to no avail. Lackey, who had been sidelined because of a forearm strain, raised his arms on the mound with a look of disbelief on his face.

Lackey is the first starter in the majors to throw only two pitches in a game since Colorado's Zach Day on Sept. 16, 2005. Day was knocked out of that game at Arizona when a line drive broke his right thumb.

Shane Loux replaced Lackey on the mound. Loux also pitched Friday night, when he gave up a 460-foot two-run homer to Josh Hamilton in the eighth inning. That was the third-longest homer ever hit at Rangers Ballpark and proved to be the difference in the Rangers' 10-8 victory.

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