Yankees Get To Guthrie, Topple Orioles Posted on August 24th
Trembley, ejected for the fourth time this season, watched from inside the clubhouse as his team lost to the New York Yankees, 5-3, a game memorable less for the play on the field and more for the distraction accompanying it.
Asked about his ejection after the game, Trembley said: “I am not going to talk about me getting thrown out. I am not going to talk about that because I will probably say something that I shouldn’t, so I’m not going to talk about it.”
Confusion in the second inning might have been the highlight, a series of events that included contentious calls and umpire arguments by Yankee Manager Joe Girardi and then Trembley. But the game also featured the return of Yankee pitcher Carl Pavano (1-0) and two game-changing home runs — a two-run shot by Jason Giambi in the third inning and a solo blast by Hideki Matsui in the seventh — both of which doomed Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie.
Guthrie has been easily Baltimore’s best starter this season. Entering Saturday night, he was 9-0 when the Orioles (61-67) score three or more runs. He got exactly that amount of support against the Yankees (69-60), but on Saturday it was not enough.
Guthrie (10-10) had a smooth performance much of the night, pitching four 1-2-3 innings and finishing with seven strikeouts, but allowed five runs on seven hits over 6 2/3 innings.
“It was a tough night,” Guthrie said. “It was one of those games you hope you can battle. I didn’t do the best I can do, but you hope for a battle and hope for a chance to win and it just didn’t work out.”
The Orioles cobbled together three runs in the second, but Trembley’s ejection came after that inning, when a contested call added intrigue.
Melvin Mora struck out swinging on a diving changeup to end the second inning. He lingered near the batters’ box, the play apparently dead. But then made a break for first base and eventually ambled to second.
“When I saw the umpire look at me and nobody called nothing,” Mora said, “I just went to first base to see what happened.”
With Orioles still on base, the Yankees did not seem to notice and headed toward their dugout. Everyone soon realized, and Girardi left the dugout to argue the Yankees’ case. Confusion ensued.
The four umpires conferred and ruled Mora out.
“Here’s what happened,” home plate umpire Joe West told a pool reporter. “I see the ball in the dirt. The hitter walked toward the dugout to throw his bat and helmet away. He, in doing so, has abandoned his effort to reach the next base. He’s called out, according to the rule.”
Trembley then took his turn in confrontation. He stood, arms folded across his chest, and discussed the call with three umpires. Before long, he was ejected. Trembley pointed his finger. He flapped his arms. He shouted. He eventually stormed to the dugout, emphatically pumping his fist on his way out, and left the field.
“I explained to him that after a crew consultation that you cannot argue the decision after the explanation,” West said. “We gave him his explanation, and he continued to argue. We warned him twice.”
Baltimore’s night continued, though, even if the emotional peak had been reached. For Guthrie, a few pitches made the difference. With two outs and a man on in the third, Giambi ripped a 3-2 pitch over the center field fence. In the seventh, Matsui deposited a fastball from Guthrie on the right field concourse for a 5-3 Yankees lead.
That capped an atypical night for Guthrie, Trembley and the entire Orioles team.