George Springer turned his frustration into production. But the Toronto Blue Jays dugout had already boiled over before his bat started the response. His check swing produced a borderline strike call. But as soon as the umpire offered his decision, assistant hitting coach Lou Iannotti made his feelings known. That earned him the very first ejection of his career in Toronto.
“Blue Jays assistant hitting coach Lou Iannotti was ejected from Thursday’s game by first base umpire John Libka for arguing this George Springer swinging strike call,” Arden Zwelling reported on X with a short clip.
The Blue Jays were already leading 3-1 against the Tampa Bay Rays by the top of the 7th inning. Springer walked in with the bases loaded. Reliever Casey Legumina delivered a 93-mph sinker on a 0-1 count with 1 out. The batter initially wanted to go for it but checked his swing at the last moment.
But first base umpire John Libka ruled it a strike. Springer did not look happy. As Libka and George started to exchange words, the entire Tropicana Field erupted. And Iannotti decided to stand up for his hitter.
John Libka at first base didn’t want an argument and immediately tossed the hitting coach. It happened so fast that even the announcer couldn’t figure out who Libka was pointing to.
Iannotti joined the Blue Jays ahead of the 2025 season, and this was the first time an umpire threw him out in the major leagues.
George was already upset with the call, and the tossing just fueled his anger. But he didn’t show it with his words or expressions. He responded with the bat.
In the same inning, with the bases loaded and one out, Legumina threw another 93 mph pitch, and Springer hit it softly to the right side. That was a no-man’s land.
As the ball rolled to the right, Springer recorded his single that helped Daz Cameron and Charles McAdoo reach home. And the slugger had something to say after the play.
Holding his hands high up in the air, he looked satisfied with the ‘contact.’ That ability got the ball into play, and the Jays made it 5-1, which was also the final score on Thursday night.
With this win, they clinched the series against the division toppers, establishing that the season isn’t done for them yet.
The Blue Jays were in the middle of the AL East in most of the first half. But a dramatic surge from the Boston Red Sox pushed them down. At one point, it looked like Toronto had little chance to make it to the postseason. But their recent form suggests that they are not over the World Series defeat from last season yet.
The Jays were struggling at the beginning of the second half. But since they visited the Washington Nationals, things changed.
They triumphed in all 7 of their last series. What’s more interesting is that they faced the Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Rays in their last 3 series. Each of them is positioned above them.
Toronto currently has a 7-3 record against the divisional rivals. Although they are still 4th, the record shows 63-66.
The Jays are just 0.5 games behind the last American League Wild Card spot. That’s why no one should write them off just yet.
They will visit the Yankees again this weekend. Given their historic rivalry and the way Toronto came up top at home last week, they would surely aim to capitalize on the 3-game series.
Iannotti’s ejection was one of the highlights of Thursday’s game. But the spotlight goes to how the Toronto Blue Jays reacted to that incident. And if they can keep fueling themselves like this, they might be in a spot to exact revenge on the Los Angeles Dodgers, who robbed them of their dream of ending the 32-year World Series drought.
