Gausman ejected in second inning (Jones ejected in fifth)

BOSTON - Plate umpire Sam Holbrook ejected Orioles starter Kevin Gausman tonight for hitting Xander Bogaerts leading off the bottom of the second inning, bringing a heated protest from a team that's been on the receiving end of purpose pitches.

Gausman's first pitch was a 77 mph curveball that hit Bogaerts on his left side. Holbrook immediately moved around the plate and tossed Gausman, a move that will be viewed throughout the night as a gross overreaction to the feud between these teams.

Catcher Caleb Joseph jumped in the air and spun in protest. Manager Buck Showalter raced out of the dugout. Gausman kept screaming and motioning with his right hand that he threw a curveball.

Third baseman Manny Machado, who made it through the top of the first without having a ball thrown behind him, joined in tonight's argument. It continued on the mound, but Gausman wasn't staying in this game.

The Red Sox have thrown pitches behind Machado's head and knees, part of a feud that led to today's conference call with commissioner Rob Manfred, chief baseball officer Joe Torre and managers and front office executives from both teams.

Warnings weren't issued before the game. A hit batter didn't bring an automatic ejection.

This is the first career ejection for Gausman, who walked Mookie Betts in a scoreless first inning and lasted only 20 pitches before heading to the clubhouse. Only eight of his pitches were strikes.

Richard Bleier replaced Gausman in his Orioles debut and gave up an RBI single to Josh Rutledge after he walked Mitch Moreland and got Chris Young to ground into a force at second base. Christian Vázquez hit into a 1-6-3 double play to end the inning.

The run is charged to Gausman, adding insult to his ejection.

Bleier tossed a scoreless third inning, but the Red Sox tacked on three more runs in the fourth - two of them unearned - to lead 4-0. J.J. Hardy had a fielding error, Young had an RBI double, Moreland scored on a fielder's choice grounder - Hardy threw the ball over Joseph's head - and Dustin Pedroia lifted a sacrifice fly to deep left field.

Ubaldo Jiménez, who's scheduled to start Thursday night's series finale, walked from the dugout to the bullpen in the second inning. He was available in relief last night and may be needed tonight, which would force the Orioles into another roster move.

You may remember that plate umpire Jordan Baker ejected Jiménez in an April 17, 2015 game at Fenway Park after the right-hander hit Pablo Sandoval in the fourth inning. Also a poor decision.

The Orioles worked Drew Pomeranz for 34 pitches in the first inning, but were unable to score. They left the bases loaded when Jonathan Schoop struck out.

Rutledge replaced third baseman Marco Hernandez, who appeared to injure his left arm while misplaying Adam Jones' bouncer.

Of course, Rutledge produces an RBI single in the second inning.

Of course, these teams can't make it through nine innings without another controversy.

Update: Holbrook also ejected Jones in the top of the fifth inning, leading to another heated argument.

Jones wasn't happy with Holbrook's strike zone and apparently voiced his displeasure after going down swinging against Pomeranz. Showalter again raced out of the dugout and Jones fired his batting helmet toward the plate as he walked toward the bench.

This is also the first career ejection for Jones. Craig Gentry replaced him in center field.

Jiménez is warming in the bullpen.