MINNEAPOLIS – Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was ejected
from Thursday’s contest against the Tigers in the seventh inning by home plate
umpire Paul Nauert following an argument about a potential hit-by-pitch call.

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Gardenhire went out to argue with Nauert after Michael
Cuddyer thought a 1-0 pitch from Tigers right-hander Zach Miner caught a piece
of his jersey. After the ball grazed by his left shoulder, Cuddyer threw his
bat down and appeared headed for first base before Nauert ruled it just a ball.

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Cuddyer started to exchange words with Nauert before
Gardenhire ran onto the field. After a heated discussion, Nauert threw
Gardenhire out of the game. It was the first ejection of the season for the
Twins manager and the 42^nd of his career.

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The ejection came right after the Twins had pulled within
one run of the Tigers on Jason Kubel’s ground-rule double. Cuddyer eventually
drew a walk from Miner to load the bases as Minnesota completed a six-run
comeback in the inning to take a 6-5 lead over Detroit.

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