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Third base umpire Tim Welke quickly changed his mind on a fair or foul call. That's when Yankees manager Joe Girardi quickly lost his temper.

Girardi was ejected from Thursday's game in Detroit for arguing Andy Dirks’ run-scoring double in the fifth inning, a hit that scored Quintin Berry to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead.

Replays showed that the ball hit the chalk on the left field line, but Welke initially put his arms up to signal a foul ball before reversing his decision to signal fair. That brought an irate Girardi out to argue the double call, which he believes could have distracted Yankees left fielder Raul Ibanez, who appeared to hesitate before the ball trickled under his glove.

Girardi vociferously argued with Welke and crew chief Bob Davidson, eventually earning himself an ejection, but not before cameras caught him telling Welke that he was protesting the game. He then continued his tirade after he was tossed, throwing his cap across the infield and playing to the crowd by imitating Welke's call.

"That's not my personality," Girardi said. "I was just still very perturbed. I'm extremely happy for what our guys accomplished. That doesn't mean I'm not going to get perturbed when I get a letter."

"I started to put my hands up in the air - I was a little quick - then I saw the ball hit the chalk line, and I pointed fair about three times," Welke said. "I don't think it had any impact. I've watched the replay, and I don't think there was any impact on the outfielder. I don't think Ibanez ever even saw me. We got the call right."

Bench coach Tony Pena took over for Girardi after the manager's third ejection this season -- all against Detroit.

Follow Jon Lane on Twitter: @JonLaneNYC