Why Yankees’ Brett Gardner went nuts on umpire

Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner got ejected and flipped out on the plate umpire in the ninth inning of a 3-2 loss to the Mariners on Sunday, September 9, 2018 (9/9/18) at Safeco Field in Seattle, Wash. The loss left the Yankees with a 2.5-game lead over the Oakland A’s in the American League Wild Card race.

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SEATTLE — Brett Gardner said he wasn’t the only one upset.

Maybe the umpire was fed up with the rest of the Yankees.

Gardner was ejected and then flipped out on plate umpire Jeremie Rehak after striking out in the ninth inning of a 3-2 loss to the Mariners on Sunday night.

The 35-year-old left fielder thought what he said to Rehak wasn’t so bad but that he was “the final straw.”

“My first at-bat, I thought (the strike zone) was pretty good,” he said. “I don’t think I was the only one who really took exception to it over the course of the game. I guess I was the final straw. I guess he was probably tired of hearing guys getting on him. So, I just felt like that was a big pitch. My at-bat went from being 3-0 to being 2-1 against a guy that throws 100 (mph) and it’s frustrating. Just probably let my emotions get the best of me and I was frustrated a little bit and obviously I said too much.”

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Gardner got in Rehak’s face, pointing and yelling at him.

Manager Aaron Boone emerged from the dugout to stop Gardner.

Boone wouldn’t say whether he had an issue with Rehak.

“I mean, I’m going to have to go back and look. It seemed a little, both ways, some in and out calls. But I’d really have to review it and talk to our guys,” he said.

Brendan Kuty may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.