Turner tells story behind odd ejection

LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner has been ejected four times in his career and umpire Chad Fairchild has tossed Turner twice, including Friday night in the Dodgers’ 4-2 win over the Rockies.

Turner led off the fourth inning, grounding out on an 0-2 pitch, with the second strike appearing to Turner to be down and away. Cody Bellinger followed Turner by homering to center field. The next batter was Max Muncy, who took a called strike that was on the inside corner or just off it.

“A lot of guys in the dugout were saying, ‘Come on, let’s go, keep them on the plate,’ and that’s when he ripped his mask off and said, ‘That’s enough,’” said Turner. “I waved at him, said ‘Hi,' and he threw me out of the game.”

Turner remembered that Fairchild had ejected him in 2017.

“I asked him about a pitch during my at-bat that same inning. I said, ‘Chad, where’d you have that?’ He kind of snapped at me, ‘It’s a strike or I wouldn’t have called it.’ I didn’t say anything else, grounded out and came off the field. Didn’t know if he was having a bad day, or a few bad days. I don’t think the last ejection was warranted, either.”

Turner said he has “great relationships” with “99.9 percent” of umpires.

“Not really sure what the issue is there, but he’ll be at third base tomorrow and I’m sure there will be a conversation about it," said Turner.

Added manager Dave Roberts: “To lose a player like Justin is tough, especially that early. Umpires doing the best they can.”