Reds' Votto on bumping umpire: I crossed the line

Joey Votto wishes he handled things differently.

The Cincinnati Reds' first baseman was remorseful after making contact with home plate umpire Chris Conroy during a heated dispute that followed his ejection in the third inning of Wednesday's game in Pittsburgh.

Votto, who flipped his bat and spiked his helmet to the ground in frustration after Gerrit Cole struck him out on three pitches to end the third, became irate after learning he had been thrown out of the game prior to taking his position defensively.

He regrets what happened next.

"I feel like as a major-league player, I have a responsibility to be a good example for younger players," Votto told reporters after the Reds' 3-0 win. "And making contact with an umpire is unacceptable. During this entire thing, that's the one thing I feel very remorseful for. I think it was something that just crossed the line. Just because I have a verbal disagreement with someone, doesn't make it OK to have physical contact with someone."

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

Votto, who was called out on a foul tip, appeared to exchange words with Cole as he walked to first base just before getting tossed. He declined to expand on what was said between the two, while Cole himself pleaded ignorance following the game.

"I don't really know what happened, honestly," the Pirates right-hander said.

Manager Bryan Price raced out of the dugout to interject between Votto and Conroy, but not before contact was made. He's likely receive some sort of punishment after Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was suspended for one game last month for making contact with an umpire during an argument over balls and strikes.