Hinch, Gomez tossed as frustrations boil over

HOUSTON — Missed opportunities, perceived strike-zone inequity and another frustrating late-inning loss boiled over in the Astros’ 3-2 setback against the Mariners on Saturday night.

Manager A.J. Hinch and outfielder Carlos Gomez got ejected an inning apart, with both showing great displeasure with the umpires en route to their dismissal.

While Hinch’s ejection came for arguing balls and strikes in the eighth inning, it was Gomez’s blow-up between the ninth and 10th innings that brought the most heat.

According to Hinch and Gomez, the center fielder displayed dismay at a strike call to Jason Castro while in the dugout during the ninth inning, catching the ire of first-base umpire Jeff Nelson. Gomez said he uttered “C’mon” and threw his hands up, but emphasized that he didn’t pursue the matter further and the the gesture wasn’t directed at Nelson.

Gomez said Nelson responded by staring him down from the infield after subsequent pitches. The two exchanged words when Gomez ran out to take the field for the 10th inning, after Luis Valbuena’s game-tying homer in the ninth. Eventually, George Springer had to restrain Gomez as the confrontation escalated.

“I just put my head down and …

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