Giants collapse against Royals after blown call, ejection

It doesn't take much for the San Francisco Giants to fall apart in 2026. On Wednesday in Kansas City, it took an unreviewable call and an ejection for a 3-0 lead to disappear.

Giants manager Tony Vitello got ejected arguing the call when Vinnie Pasquantino overslid second base on a double, only for second base umpire Mike Estabrook to rule the play a push and thus unreviewable. The Kansas City Royals followed with a five-run inning on their way to a 5-4 win.

Tony Vitello's ejection put his team out of rhythm

When Estabrook ruled Pasquantino safe, he also declared that shortstop Willy Adames had pushed the Royals first baseman off the bag. However, Adames merely tagged him when Pasquantino may have been off the base, with no pushing involved. Vitello argued intensely, eventually getting tossed for the length and intensity of his protest.

It didn't look like Pasquantino was truly out when Adames tagged him anyway, but the lengthy pause where all parties debated the issue seemed to throw starter Landen Roupp, who'd given up only three hits and no runs, off his game. Two pitches later, Salvador Perez had homered to make the game 3-2, and two relievers later, the Royals had a 5-3 lead.