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With runners on first and third and one out, Smoltz hit a tapper in front of the plate against Jose Lima (0-1). Lo Duca fielded the ball with his right hand and lunged back in an attempt to tag Atlanta's Brian McCann. Plate umpire Angel Hernandez called McCann safe, and Lo Duca slammed the ball to the infield grass while arguing.
"I spiked it pretty good, probably better than Ickey Woods, but I didn't do the Ickey Shuffle," Lo Duca said.
Hernandez immediately ejected Lo Duca. Cox got tossed for arguing after Smoltz wasn't allowed to take second.
After the game, both Lima and Lo Duca said that Hernandez told them that he was calling pitches farther off the plate strikes for Smoltz, but not for Lima.
"When the umpire said 'I'm going to give you a couple of inches off the plate, but I'm not going to give you 4-5 inches because you're not John Smoltz,' I'm trying to protect my pitcher," Lo Duca said.
Can someone help me out... I am curious if this sounds alittle funny or these are just too players trying to get a rise out of the umpire ranks with these comments. I just would find it alittle unprofessional to say that to a player after a game like todays.
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