Leyland Tossed, Tigers' Battery Bickers In Loss To Angels

Apparently the weather isn't the only thing stormy over Comerica Park these days.

In the midst of a 12-7 loss to the Angels on Wednesday that was attributable to a pitching collapse, Tigers manager Jim Leyland was thumbed from the game in the third inning, and Detroit's pitcher and catcher were caught in an embarrassing on-field squabble in the fourth.

Right-hander Brad Penny was in the process of being shelled for seven runs in 3 1/3 innings when catcher Victor Martinez ended a parade of hits by coming out to the mound. The pitcher and catcher were seen jawing at one another.

"It had nothing to do with pitch selection or anything like that," Penny said after the Tigers' 12-7 loss to the Angels. "With a runner on second, I like to come set taking signs. That way the hitter can't look at second base and anything there. I've pitched my whole career that way, and he didn't want me to do it. I know there's no other way for me. I guess it's a habit. It's natural.

"I've done it my whole career. It's not that big of a deal. Me and Victor have been friends for a while now, and that happens when you're competing."

Martinez was asked his version of things. He responded, "Next question. Don't ask about that."

Leyland got tossed an inning earlier when his leadoff hitter, Austin Jackson, appeared to be hit by a pitch with a man on second and one out. The pitch was ruled a foul ball by plate umpire Brian Knight.

"Austin Jackson has a bruise on his hand the size of a baseball," Leyland said. "My players would think I lost my mind if I didn't go out there on something like that, and it appeared to me that it was a missed call."

Leyland said his piece and went back into the dugout but apparently said something to Knight or first base umpire Jerry Layne because he was quickly ejected from the game.

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