It won’t go down as one of manager Joe Mikulik’s best tantrums, but the Myrtle Beach Pelicans manager had another memorable blow-up with umpires during his team’s Carolina League playoff game with the Salem Red Sox Wednesday night.
During the 10th inning of a 1-1 ballgame, Mikulik took issue with the umpires ruling a drive down the left field line by Salem’s Jake Romanski a home run, rather than a foul ball. Third base umpire Rich Grassa called a home run, which was immediately argued by Pelicans left fielder Ryan Cordell. Mikulik then ran out of the dugout to make his case.
Any time a manager takes a base off the field, it’s worth a highlight — and Mikulik rarely disappoints. He pulled up the third-base bag and placed it by the warning track, evidently demonstrating Grassa’s concept of where the left field foul line was. Mikulik was ejected, along with Pelicans hitting coach Josue Perez and third baseman Nick Vickerson.
Despite Mikulik’s efforts, the call stood and Salem took a 3-1 lead, eventually resulting in a Game 1 win and 1-0 lead in the Carolina League Southern Division series. Game 2 of the best-of-three series will be played Thursday night.
