Controversial call in Reds-Braves leads to Terry Francona's first ejection in Cincy

For a guy with almost 25 years of managing under his belt, Terry Francona doesn't get tossed from games very often. He has the third-most career ejections among active managers, but that's partially because how long his career has been; by comparison, the Giants' Bob Melvin, who comes second in the active pack, has 64 ejections in 22 years managing to Francona's 51 and 24.

The 51st came on Thursday, in the bottom of the 11th as the Reds engaged in another extra inning battle against the Braves. Cincinnati and Atlanta had matched each other beat for beat through seven innings before Rece Hinds hit his first homer of the season, a two-run shot, to put the Reds in front in the top of the ninth.

But Graham Ashcraft got into trouble as he entered looking for a save with the Braves down to their last three outs, and Atlanta ended up evening the score to force extra innings.

Things were stuck in a standstill through the 10th, but Blake Dunn got to first on a fielder's choice. It came at the expense of the free man in scoring position, but it kept Cincinnati's hopes alive. After an Austin Wynns fly out, Dunn, one of the speediest guys on the Reds' roster, tried to steal second with two outs.

He was called out on the tag from Ozzie Albies, but the Reds were quick to challenge, as Albies' knee was clearly planted on second to block the bag. The call on the field stood, and Francona was already on the field, ready to interject. Second base umpire Alex MacKay actually exercised a little restraint before he threw Francona out, but he exited along with first base coach Collin Cowgill after a frankly ridiculous call from that umpiring crew.

Terry Francona gets his first ejection as Reds' manager after Ozzie Albies clearly blocked Blake Dunn

That call probably ended up costing the Reds the game. Rookie Drake Baldwin came up with two outs and roped a single that scored the man himself — Albies — and walked things off for the Braves.

Francona was clearly in the right here. Albies' knee was dropping down toward the bag before the ball had even reached his glove, signaling clear intent to block "the runner's progress," which is straight out of MLB's rulebook. It's up to the umpires to determine obstruction, which they obviously should have. The rule was reemphasized last year specifically to avoid these kinds of plays.

At least Francona got his money's worth and notched that first Reds ejection for a very good reason.