Weiss, Raburn tossed for arguing strike zone

DENVER — Rockies manager Walt Weiss saw his fourth-inning ejection during a 6-1 loss to the Pirates on Monday night as a necessary part of his job. Left fielder Ryan Raburn thought his sixth-inning ejection was completely unnecessary.

Throughout, Colorado players groused that home-plate umpire Lance Barrett’s strike zone was too generous, as evidenced by the six strikeouts looking — five against Pirates starter Jeff Locke — that an aggressive-swinging Rockies team absorbed. Raburn went down looking twice, and even Nolan Arenado took just the 26th strikeout looking of his career.

Weiss, who said he made sure Barrett ejected him rather than catcher Nick Hundley, diplomatically said that Barrett’s zone was the same for both teams, but, “They [the Pirates] dealt with it a little bit better than we did.”

Bench coach Tom Runnells assumed the managerial duties following Weiss’ ejection.

But Raburn didn’t believe his protest — as he walked toward the dugout with his back toward Barrett — warranted the goodbye thumb.

“I didn’t have any …

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