NEW YORK - Yankees manager Joe Girardi was ejected from Game 2 of the AL championship series on Sunday after arguing what television replays showed was a missed call by second base umpire Jeff Nelson.
New York was trailing 1-0 with two outs in the eighth inning when Austin Jackson singled with Omar Infante on first. Right fielder Nick Swisher threw to second, where Infante had run past the base, and Robinson Cano appeared to tag him on the chest sliding back.
After Boone Logan relieved, pinch-hitter Avisail Garcia blooped a single to right for a 2-0 lead and Girardi returned to the mound to bring in Joba Chamberlain. Girardi got into a heated discussion and was tossed on his 48th birthday.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Boston sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera followed with another single for a 3-0 lead.
Four of Girardi's five ejections this year have come in games against Detroit.
In his postgame press conference, Girardi called for instant replay to be used to confirm or overturn all umpire's calls, not just home runs, foul balls or so-called "boundary" calls.
"In this day and age, when we have instant replay available to us, it has to change," Girardi said. "These guys are under tremendous pressure. It takes more time for me to argue than for them to get it right.
"I'm not saying Robbie Cano's safe last night. But it changes the game. There's a lot more pressure on a pitcher when you're up 1-0 in the eighth than when you're up 3-0.
"I'm not saying that we win the game if the call is right. But in this day and age, there's just too much at stake. And the technology is available."
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.