Each night in the 2016 baseball season, we'll run down the top news, facts and highlights from action around Major League Baseball.
Don't mess with Big Papi.
David Ortiz and Red Sox manager John Farrell were both ejected in the top of ninth inning of Boston's 3-2 loss to the Yankees on Friday night. The ejections were over a pair of questionable strikes called by home plate umpire Ron Kulpa.
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With the bases loaded and one out, a low pitch on a 3-1 count was called a strike, which Ortiz obviously thought was Ball 4 and should have produced a game-tying walk.
Farrell charged out of the dugout to argue the call (and protect Ortiz) and was promptly tossed by Kulpa. On the next pitch, Ortiz struck out looking on another questionable strike. After going to the dugout, Ortiz came charging back out to scream at Kulpa. Ortiz had to be restrained by teammates and was also ejected.
Hanley Ramirez, the next batter, struck out to end the game at Yankee Stadium.
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All wasn't lost for Ortiz: He hit his 510th career home run, passing Gary Sheffield for 25th on the all-time list. It was also his 452nd homer with the Red Sox, tying Carl Yastrzemski for second place on the franchise's list, behind Ted Williams.
Player of the day
Jung Ho Kang, 3B, Pirates: Making his 2016 debut, Kang homered twice in Pittsburgh's 4-2 victory over the Cardinals. He spent almost eight months rehabilitating his surgically repaired left knee. His two-run homer in the sixth and solo homer in the eighth kept the Pirates ahead.
Highlight
Giancarlo Stanton's giant 475-foot homer was the eventual game-winner in Miami's 6-4 victory over the Phillies.
Three things to know
— The Cubs have an MLB-best 22-6 record; that's the best 28-game start since the Yankees opened the 2003 season with the same record. Chicago's plus-98 run differential in 28 games is the best since 1903.
— After 25 straight solo home runs, Marwin Gonzalez finally hit a homer with another player on base to help the Astros beat the Mariners.
— The Braves have lost eight straight games at home and now have a 1-13 mark at Turner Field, by far the worst home record in all of baseball. The Rockies are the next-worst team at home; they're 4-8 at Coors Field.
What's next
Dodgers (14-15) at Blue Jays (16-15), 1:07 p.m. ET: Clayton Kershaw will face the Blue Jays for the first time, and hopes to help his team rebound from Friday's 5-2 loss at Rogers Centre. Kershaw is 10-4 with a 2.32 ERA in 25 career interleague starts, but he will have to face off against Troy Tulowitzki, who is returning to the lineup after a rest day. R.A. Dickey will be taking the mound for the Jays; he's hoping to continue his best season start since 2010.
Twins (8-20) at White Sox (19-10), 7:10 p.m. ET: The one bright spot for the Twins' pitching staff is Ervin Santana, who will be back on the mound after spending time on the 15-day DL. He will be starting for the first time since tweaking his back and getting scratched from his April 23 start. He will, however, have to face White Sox lefty Chris Sale, who is 6-0 with a 1.66 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings over six starts.