| Gwendolyn Burrell. 28th June, 2005 - 4:59 pm
 Baltimore – Not long ago, the Baltimore Orioles were first in the American League East. Now a six-game losing streak has placed them in second place and in low spirits. Leading 4-1 at the end of the fifth inning, the Orioles began to break down.
The Yankees scored three runs in the sixth followed by runs in the eighth and ninth innings. Despite being out hit by the Orioles, 10-7, the Yankees capitalized on nine walks as well as a balk called on O’s pitcher Steve Kline in the eighth. This controversial call, and the actions that followed, were possibly what sealed the Orioles’ defeat.
Starting off the eighth inning, Kline gave up a leadoff single to Jorge Posada. While preparing to pitch to Jason Giambi, home plate umpire Marty Foster called Kline for a balk advancing Posada to second base. An enraged Kline charged Foster, but was restrained by Orioles first base coach Rick Dempsey and manager Lee Mazzilli. Kline was ejected and Posada eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Bernie Williams.
"They said I moved. I saw time out, stepped off and they banged me," Kline said. “I thought it was kind of a bogus call in a tight game like that. If I moved, I moved. This is just icing on the cake."
The Orioles remain two games behind the first place Boston Red Sox and only three games ahead of the Yankees. Baltimore looks to end its losing streak in game two of the three-game series versus the Yankees tonight at Camden Yards. |
