Kemp and Mattingly ejected during loss to Pirates

It is an everyday occurrence for tempers to flare on the Hollywood stage. The Dodgers orchestrated their own rather aggressive stand-off with several umpires during a game yesterday played not in Hollywood but Pittsburgh, and PNC Park.

The Dodgers brought with them their stage dramatics in a 10-6 loss to the Pirates, when both manager Don Mattingly and star player Matt Kemp were ejected in the second inning.

Playing a lesser role in the shadow of the former two, starting pitcher Joe Blanton also got tossed by home-plate umpire Angel Campos after he left the game in the fifth inning following a dreadful display.

The Dodgers won the four-game set with the Pirates 3-1, and with it are in sole possession of the NL West lead, albeit by half a game. But that wasn’t the talking point from yesterday despite Garrett Jones hitting two three-run home runs – the lefty has been hot all series long – it was Los Angeles who sparked the most fireworks.

Mattingly, usually a reserved character who manages in a dignified and downbeat way, was anything but after his number three hitter Matt Kemp was tossed from the dugout for simply shouting to his teammate Andre Ethier, “Let’s go, Dre!”

Plate umpire Campos had called a strike for A.J. Burnett’s previous pitch and Kemp took exception to the call. Campos informed the dugout that he didn’t want to hear another word. Kemp, the leader of the Dodgers and a smart player, simply shut up arguing and instead offered some encouragement to his outfield partner.

Little did he know it, but Kemp may as well have said “Lights, camera, action.” Campos signed Kemp out of the game and that was the invitation for the centre-fielder to come burling out of the visiting dugout, rightly pumped up about the decision.

Mattingly followed suit, trailing in Kemp’s wake for an argument but just as much to keep Kemp from making contact with one of the umpires, which would have led to a suspension. Kemp was furious and tried to get around the field umpires in order to receive an explanation from Campos, but he was held back by teammate Shane Victorino and bench coach Trey Hillman.

After Kemp headed back to the dugout – which took some time – Mattingly stayed out to fight the cause. The manager was understandably furious because he heard exactly what Kemp had said during the at-bat and he had now lost his most dangerous and valuable hitter with over seven innings to play.

Mattingly was subsequently thrown out by crew chief Tim Tschida, and with a division race with the Giants heating up he was as irate as he has been all season. Every game counts for the Dodgers now and despite a successful road trip thus far with a series win in Miami preceding this visit to Pittsburgh, Mattingly has now been ejected six times this season, more than any other manager throughout the major-leagues.

It is the first time this year that either Blanton or Kemp have been thrown out of a game, but Los Angeles must forget this saga quickly with a tough three-game series against the Braves in Atlanta coming up.

The Braves are top of the National League wild card and have maintained their close proximity to the streaking Washington Nationals in the NL East during the season. Playing his final year in baseball, the Braves’ Chipper Jones is still going strong; hitting two home runs yesterday against the San Diego Padres.

Every series seems to be exciting throughout Major League Baseball with less than 50 games to play for each team. This weekend the Red Sox travel to the Bronx to take on the Yankees, and we have witnessed the third perfect game this season just a few days ago from Felix Hernandez.

It takes a lot for a drug suspension to be overlooked in the news – Melky Cabrera was suspended 50 games after testing positive for testosterone on Wednesday – but the events from the last week have certainly done that.

Expect Matt Kemp to be more than motivated for the Atlanta series as he looks to emulate his nickname ‘Beast Mode’ once again.