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 Third base coach Larry Bowa was still in a rage as he left Dodger Stadium some 30 minutes after Rafael Furcal scored from second on pinch hitter Delwyn Young's infield single in the ninth to give the Dodgers a 3-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night.
Bowa was ejected in the Los Angeles sixth for arguing with third base umpire Ed Montague after being told to stay within the boundaries of the coaching box
-- a rule being enforced this year for the first time.
He unleashed a profanity-laced tirade afterward in expressing his opinion of the rule.
"I did it all spring, nobody said a word," he said. "I did it yesterday, nobody said a word. It's impossible to coach third and stay in the box with a runner at second."
Bench coach Bob Schaefer also criticized the rule, but added: "Unfortunately, the umpires are doing what they're told to do."
The Dodgers had two on and two outs in a scoreless game when Montague gestured to Bowa. The two came together, the discussion got heated, and Bowa was tossed.
Bowa had to be restrained by manager Joe Torre and Schaefer before leaving the field. Once in the dugout, the fiery former manager turned over a bucket of Gatorade.
First base coach Mariano Duncan moved to third and hitting coach Mike Easler took over at first.
Major League Baseball announced in late February that starting this year, first- and third base coaches must not cross the lines toward home plate or the field until batted balls pass them. Only then can they take up other spots to guide runners.
Double-A first base coach Mike Coolbaugh was killed by a line drive to the neck last season.
Third base coaches routinely stand much closer to the plate than the lines permit, trying to get a better look at where outfielders are positioned.
"We got a memo and an edict, and they're adamant about the box and stuff," Montague said. "Don't go up in front of the box toward home plate, and don't get any closer to the foul lines. I told Bo in the bottom of the fifth, because he got up close. And that's what caught my eye. And I just told him,
'Bo, you got the memo, we got the memo, and you've got to stay back.' I went over and told Joe in-between innings what I told Bo. And Bo just said,
'I'm going to do it the way I've always been doing it.'
"I said, 'Bo, if you go up, I'm going to have to run you.' And he said,
'Do what you've got to do, and it is what it is.' When he got up in front of it again, I said,
'Bo, I told you once, now get back in the box.' He argued it, and finally I said,
'You're gone.' So I gave him every chance in the book and he defied it.
"It's probably one of the dumbest ejections I've had. It was an uncalled for ejection. I mean, I've known Bo a long time. I have no problem with Larry. Larry and I have always gotten along, so there's nothing there. I'm not out to get him, but I guarantee you, if we don't move him back, we're going to hear from the league office."
In other NL games Tuesday night, the Florida Marlins beat the New York Mets 5-4 in 10 innings, the Colorado Rockies topped the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1, and the San Diego Padres downed the Houston Astros 2-1.
Furcal never stopped as San Francisco second baseman Ray Durham made a sliding stop of Young's sharp grounder between first and second before throwing late to first base. First baseman Rich Aurilia's throw home was too late to get Furcal, who slid around the tag of catcher Bengie Molina.
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Furcal hit a one-out single off Keiichi Yabu (0-1) and Russell Martin walked before Andre Ethier struck out, setting the stage for Young, who was batting for winning pitcher Takashi Saito.
Saito (1-0) struck out the side in the top of the ninth to earn the victory.
"I knew (Furcal) was going to go," Aurilia said. "As soon as I saw Ray bobble the ball, I said,
'I have to get off the bag and get to the ball.' Ray made a great stop, just not good enough right now."
Marlins 5, Mets 4, 10 innings
New York's Pedro Martinez left early with a leg injury, and Robert Andino's first career home run with two outs in the 10th inning lifted the host Marlins.
Already coming off two injury-filled seasons, Martinez strained his left hamstring in the fourth inning, after just 57 pitches.
The Mets' bullpen more than picked up the slack in Martinez's absence, until Andino
-- who had just six extra-base hits in his first 81 major league at-bats -- homered to left field off Matt Wise (0-1), the sixth Mets pitcher.
Justin Miller (1-0) allowed Brian Schneider's third hit of the game in the 10th, but retired Endy Chavez and Jose Reyes on flyouts to strand him there.
Rockies 2, Cardinals 1
Third baseman Troy Glaus' throwing error allowed the tying run to score and Jayson Nix walked with the bases loaded in a two-run eighth as Colorado began the defense of its NL pennant in St. Louis.
Cardinals castoff Kip Wells pitched into the sixth in his second career opening day start, Taylor Buchholz (1-0) had a scoreless seventh and Manny Corpas threw a perfect ninth for the save.
Kyle Lohse allowed three hits in five scoreless innings for St. Louis and Yadier Molina homered. Ryan Franklin (0-1) was the loser.
Padres 2, Astros 1
Trevor Hoffman earned his 525th career save, pitching the ninth inning in the Padres' victory over the visiting Astros.
Hunter Pence beat out an infield single before Hoffman struck out Lance Berkman to end the game.
Scott Hairston hit a two-run run homer off Brandon Backe (0-1) to carry Chris Young (1-0) and the Padres to their second straight victory.
[Associated Press; By JOHN NADEL]
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
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