MILWAUKEE (AP) -Brendan Harris didn't see the pitch. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire barely believed what he saw.

Gardenhire was ejected in the eighth inning of Minnesota's 4-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday for arguing with Brian Runge, after the plate umpire didn't allow Harris time to reset in the batter's box with the Twins trailing 3-2 and no out in the eighth.

On an 0-2 count, Harris got into the box, then pulled one foot out while asking for time. Runge didn't grant it and Brewers reliever Guillermo Mota delivered to the plate.

Runge called the pitch a strike and a shocked Harris, who wasn't looking at Mota, dropped his bat and began to complain.

``I guess that 30 seconds taking the bat out of my hands was worth it,'' Harris said. ``It was a 3-2 game in the eighth. You would think you would have a feel for the game.''

Gardenhire came out to get Harris and argued for several minutes. Runge warned him to go back to the dugout before ejecting him.

``I was in shock. I honestly didn't know what I saw. My guy is looking down and not even looking at the pitcher. If he gets hit in the head, what are we going to do then? That's embarrassing,'' a still steamed Gardenhire said. ``'Call the league,' that's what I was told.''

MLB has been emphasizing rules speeding up the game this year. Among the suggestions the league has given umpires is that they should urge batters to enter the batter's box faster and enforce rules such as issuing an automatic strike to batters who linger outside the box.

Harris said he asked for time and even though he heard nothing, he thought it had been granted because Runge changed position and stood up slightly.

Harris noticed Brewers catcher Jason Kendall set up to catch, but thought Mota simply might be changing the ball. Then the pitch came.

``He's not changing the ball with an 85 mile-per-hour slider,'' Harris said. ``I feel like it's kind of a shame that we're talking about this after a big league game.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.