Major League Baseball games played Tuesday, July 3, 2007: Yesterday featured a full slate of 15 games that produced a total of three ejections.

As I first noted here, last night in the Bronx, where the New York Yankees hosted the Minnesota Twins, home plate umpire Ron Kulpa ejected Twins center fielder Torii Hunter after a called strike three for the first out in the top of the 8th inning. As I wrote in my post from last night, "What makes the ejection unusual is that the batter on whom the called third strike was recorded was Twins third baseman Nick Punto. At the time of the ejection, Hunter wasn't even on deck or in the hole." The Yankees won the game 8-0. You can access the box score at this link. Additional coverage is available from The Minneapolis Star Tribune (here and here); The St. Paul Pioneer Press; The New York Times; The New York Daily News; The New York Post; and The Associated Press.

As I first noted here, last night in Houston, where the Astros were hosting the Philadeplhia Phillies, first base umpire Lance Barksdale ejected Phillies manager Charlie Manuel for arguing Barksdale's blown call at first base that took away what replays showed to be an inning-ending and game-ending 6-4-3 double play. As I wrote in my post from last night, "Replays showed that Astros left fielder Carlos Lee was out by half a step at first base after grounding into what replays showed to be a 6-4-3 double play, but Lee was called safe at first by Barksdale. The Phillies failure to record the double play at least temporarily deprived them of the victory by allowing the tying run to score, thereby sending the game into extra innings with a score of 4-4." The Astros ended up winning the game with a lead-off, walk-off home run in the bottom of the 13th inning. You can access the box score -- which erroneously fails to note the ejection -- at this link, while wraps from MLB.com are available here and here. Additional coverage is available from The Philadelphia Inquirer; The Houston Chronicle; and The Associated Press. And a related photo can be viewed here.

Finally, as I first noted here, last night in Arlington, where the Texas Rangers hosted the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, home plate umpire John Hirschbeck ejected Rangers bench coach Art Howe in the top of the 8th inning with one out for arguing from the dugout. Additional coverage is available from The Dallas Morning News; The Fort Worth Star-Telegram; The Los Angeles Times; The Los Angeles Daily News; and The Orange County Register.

Credit umpires Ron Kulpa, Lance Barksdale, and John Hirschbeck each with one ejection and adjust your Umpire Fantasy League standings accordingly.