ATLANTA -- Reds first baseman Joey Votto missed almost all of his team's 6-5 victory over the Braves on Wednesday afternoon at SunTrust Park. Votto protested a called strike three in the first inning by home-plate umpire Carlos Torres, and then kept protesting.
After several moments, Torres ejected Votto for arguing balls and strikes. It was the eighth ejection of his career and his first since Sept. 9, 2015.
"Really he gave me plenty of opportunities to stay in the game," Votto said. "I wouldn't stop disagreeing with the call. You've got to get the game going. You can't wait for a player. You've got to get it going."
Votto looked at a called first strike vs. Braves pitcher Sean Newcomb and fouled off the second pitch. The third pitch, a 92-mph fastball high but over the plate was called a strike -- angering Votto. Torres let him vent his frustration for a little while as interim manager Jim Riggleman and third-base coach Billy Hatcher attempted to intervene. But it was to no avail and Votto was thrown out of the game.
"That was unfortunate," Riggleman said. "You hate to see that. Joey is pretty calm and he really knows the strike zone. Obviously, from our bias, we felt like he got thrown a little quick."
Rookie Brandon Dixon replaced Votto at first base in the bottom of the first inning.
The last time Votto was ejected, by umpire Bill Welke in 2015, he argued after he was not allowed a timeout from the batter's box. That argument resulted in a one-game suspension.
In his 79 games this season, Votto is batting .301/.434/.459 with eight home runs and 42 RBIs. He leads the National League in on-base percentage and walks. Votto's 11-game streak of drawing at least one walk -- the longest in the Majors -- ended with his ejection after one plate appearance.
Votto was upbeat in the clubhouse postgame, pleased that his team won a game and the three-game series while he was out.
"Heck, yeah, It was very good," Votto said. "I got to watch the guys play. I thought they were very good. They swung the bats well and looked really good. [Jose Peraza] swung the bat fantastically today. It was a really nice team effort."