Aaron Boone notches his first ejection of 2024 season in Yankees' game vs. Marlins

NEW YORK – That was the first early goodbye of the year for Aaron Boone.

On a chilly Wednesday night, the Yankees manager was tossed from a game for the first time in 2024.

The reason was – what else? – a questionable strike zone.

At times during their series finale at Yankee Stadium against the Miami Marlins, Yankees batters had issues with plate umpire John Bacon’s pitcher friendly calls.

But the breaking point arrived in the bottom of the seventh inning, on a 1-1 breaking pitch by lefty Andrew Nardi to lefty-hitting Alex Verdugo that was called a strike.

Verdugo, who’d already taken issue with some of Bacon’s calls, winced in frustration.

Boone, who was ejected seven times last year, was quickly out of the dugout, pointing and shouting at Bacon, who took little time in giving Boone the heave-ho.

"It felt quick,'' Boone said of Bacon's trigger, after the Marlins held on for a 5-2 win.

Verdugo enthusiastically mentioned Boone's fiery exchanges with umpires shortly after being traded from the Boston Red Sox.

"I've seen the way he's had his players' backs," Verdugo said four months ago. "That's something I want to see out of my (manager). I want to see some fire, some fight for the guys. I think just instead of airing people out, have their backs.''

Verdugo's negative inference toward his former manager wasn't lost in Boston, with Verdugo taking some heat about his comments. Red Sox manager Alex Cora disciplined Verdugo at times last year for instances of lateness and lack of hustle.

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So far as a Yankee, Verdugo has fit in well in the clubhouse, has been embraced by the fans, and has given them their "Bronx Dawgs'' indentity in the early going, off to a 10-3 start.

At the time of Boone's Wednesday night ejection, the Marlins led by three runs and Verdugo was leading off the seventh.

Having had his say, Boone handed the lineup card to bench coach Brad Ausmus and exited to the warmth of the manager’s office.

Verdugo wound up striking out swinging and finished 0-for-4.

Giancarlo Stanton hit his fourth homer of the year, Juan Soto doubled in a run and the Yanks had a chance to overtake the Marlins (2-11) in the ninth, but Aaron Judge flied out with the bases loaded to end it.

"Thought we competed really well all night, all the way to the end,'' said Boone. "The purpose I've been talking about, man, you can feel that.''

Marcus Stroman hadn't yielded an earned run over his first two Yankees starts, but he ran into command and mechanical problems during Miami's four-run third inning and surrendered a three-run homer to Jake Burger.

"Burger put a really good swing on a bad pitch,'' said Stroman, who lasted five innings and felt "locked in'' from there, with better action on his sinker and cutter.

Meanwhile, the Yankees were blanked over five innings by Marlins lefty starter Ryan Weathers, the son of 1996 world champion Yankees reliever David Weathers.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Aaron Boone notches first ejection of 2024 season for Yankees