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Mike Scioscia went 0 for 2 in arguments with home plate umpire Joe West on Saturday night at Angel Stadium.
Fortunately for the Angels manager, his hitters were a little more productive during a 7-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in which Bobby Wilson hit two home runs and Hideki Matsui collected his first four-hit game of the season.
But Scioscia didn't make much headway in the third inning after Erick Aybar was called out on runner's interference or in the fourth when Peter Bourjos was hit by a pitch but not awarded first base.
With Bobby Abreu already on second base following a leadoff double in the third, Aybar appeared to reach first base safely when his shoulder knocked third baseman Jose Bautista's throw out of first baseman Lyle Overbay's glove. But the umpires ruled that Aybar was out because he was running inside the baseline.
Scioscia, who argued with West for a couple of minutes, told reporters after the game that his contention was that if Aybar had beaten the throw then it didn't matter.
An inning later, Bourjos took a pitch off his left shoulder from Toronto starter Brett Cecil but was not awarded first base because West, according to Scioscia, thought Bourjos "leaned into the ball a little bit and he wouldn't let that happen." Bourjos eventually grounded out to shortstop.
West declined to comment when a reporter appeared at the umpires' dressing room.
--Ben Bolch
Photo: Angels Manager Mike Scioscia argues a call with umpire Joe West during Saturday's game. Credit: Alex Gallardo / Associated Press
