Pirate Protest Upheld; Game Will Be Resumed

National League President Charles Feeney Tuesday upheld the Pittsburgh Pirates’ protest that their 4-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals Monday night was improperly called because of rain and ordered the game resumed from the point of suspension.

Feeney ordered the contest, initially recorded as a victory for the Cardinals, to be resumed with a Cardinal on first and one out in the top of the sixth. The resumed game will be completed before the teams’ regularly scheduled game tonight.

Umpire-in-chief John Kibler called the game after back-to-back rain delays of 17 and 22 minutes. Between the delays, play resumed long enough for Rick Rhoden, who was given the loss, to throw two pitches to Mike LaValliere.

Kibler, however, violated the rule that requires that the crew chief wait at least 30 minutes before calling a game. He called Feeney late Monday and admitted the mistake.

Said Kibler: “I told him, ‘I’ve had time and I’ve thought it over. I fouled it up. If they protest, I can’t see any other way you can go but uphold the protest.’ ”