Tensions escalate late — including David Ross’ 1st ejection of the season — in the Chicago Cubs’ 4-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds

Chicago Cubs reliever Rowan Wick never had spoken to fellow Canadian and Cincinnati Reds star Joey Votto.

That changed during Wednesday night’s brouhaha in the eighth inning of the Cubs’ 4-3 loss.

The issue started with a high, inside first-pitch fastball that forced Votto to twist away after a length replay review of the previous play. Wick walked Votto on four pitches to put runners on first and second with one out.

A frustrated Wick saw Votto fling his bat toward the Reds dugout before heading to first base, prompting Wick to tell him, “Nice bat flip.”

Wick said he couldn’t recall what else he might have said, unhappy with the noncompetitive pitches he threw. Votto started jawing at Wick halfway down the first-base line, apparently triggered by Wick’s comments.

The yelling continued as Votto stood at first base. Wick heard him but said: “I wasn’t going to turn around to start anything. I was just focusing on getting the next guy.”

“I mean, I understand he’s been in the league a long time, he can do whatever he wants when he walks. I let the emotions get the best of me. I got a little frustrated, but I don’t know, I feel like he kind of blew it out of the water a little more than it needed to be.”

Wick credited catcher P.J. Higgins for helping him refocus and execute pitches to get out of the inning and keep the Cubs deficit at two runs.

“I don’t even know if (Votto) knows we’re both Canadian,” Wick said.

Tensions escalated with one out in the ninth, however, when Reds reliever Hunter Strickland drilled Patrick Wisdom with a first-pitch 95 mph fastball. Cubs manager David Ross wasn’t happy the umpires didn’t meet to discuss whether Strickland intentionally hit Wisdom and he heatedly expressed his displeasure, resulting in his first ejection this season and the sixth in his managerial career.

“With what happened the inning before with Joey walking toward Wick and them not doing a whole lot and then them hitting Wisdom — two umpires wanting to discuss whether they thought it was intentional or not and nobody doing that — I just didn’t understand why,” Ross said. “So I wanted to know, why are you guys not talking about that?

“That’s been pretty commonplace when there’s a lot of jawing going on. The umpires get together and see if there’s anything intentional and they usually err on the side of warnings.”

The hit by pitch nearly sparked a Cubs comeback.

Alfonso Rivas followed with a walk and Willson Contreras entered to pinch hit, his first action since exiting Saturday’s game with a sore hamstring. Contreras drove a ball deep to center field but was robbed of extra bases by Nick Senzel’s jumping catch near the wall.

Nico Hoerner, activated off the injured list before the game, connected on a pinch-hit bloop single to drive in Wisdom and cut the Reds lead to one run. But rookie Christopher Morel couldn’t deliver the big hit with runners on the corners, striking out to end the game.

“The at-bats in the ninth were really good,” Ross said. “Guys continued to fight. The bullpen did a really nice job. We just came up short, but well-played baseball game I thought.”

Hoerner’s fluky right ankle sprain cost him only two weeks. He initially feared he could miss more time after colliding with an umpire in shallow right field May 11 in San Diego. He bounced back well, though, and suddenly the Cubs infield depth is a strength.

Hoerner’s return corresponded with catcher Yan Gomes going on the IL with a left oblique strain. Gomes’ injury creates an extended chance for Higgins, who started again Wednesday.

Ross indicated Gomes’ oblique strain is on the milder side, which is encouraging for an injury that can be tough to come back from.

“The news we got back is not as bad as we thought,” Ross said.

Hoerner’s return gives Ross a lot of middle infield options, depending on how he wants to mix and match Hoerner with Andrelton Simmons, Morel and Jonathan Villar. Nick Madrigal (lower back strain) remains on the IL and went through a second day of full baseball activities Wednesday as he continues to progress.

Hoerner was not in the lineup Wednesday as the Cubs started Simmons at shortstop and Morel at second base. On days Hoerner and Simmons are both in the lineup, expect to see Hoerner at shortstop despite Simmons never playing anywhere else in the field during his 11 seasons in the majors.

There’s a reason Ross wants that defensive setup between the two.

“There’s a real benefit from a guy that young and upcoming getting as many reps at short for us,” Ross explained. “And the versatility of Simmons — I don’t know that there really is a real position in the infield anymore. I mean, half the time, (third baseman) Patrick Wisdom (is) at shortstop, right? So I think moving those guys around, you’ll see that.”

When Simmons joined the Cubs after missing the first 32 games on the IL, he acknowledged his shoulder was not yet 100%. Giving Simmons time at second base could help as he gets stronger with more game reps.

More importantly, the Cubs can find out whether Hoerner is a long-term answer at short.

“Nico is a big-league shortstop,” Ross said. “He’s proven he can play big-league shortstop pretty consistently already in this season. Let’s see what happens at the end of the year and assess there. It’s easy to say you can be a shortstop in the big leagues long term, but you also have to do it. You have to prove it.”

Hoerner’s defensive performance this season made Simmons feel he didn’t need to rush back before his body was ready. He has been highly complimentary of Hoerner’s play, especially his backhanded jump throws from the hole.

Hoerner appreciates the praise from Simmons, a four-time Gold Glove winner.

“He’s someone who’s done it at the highest level,” Hoerner said Wednesday. “I mean, some of those stats that have been flashing, defensive runs saved in the last decade and things like that, that’s pretty amazing.

“So he’s a guy who not only does it but understands how he does it. He’s always thinking a play ahead and someone I’m excited to share the field with for sure.”