Witt Pitches 10 Innings This Time, Still Can’t Come Away With a Win

It had been a pretty good outing for Angel pitchers until, guess what? A balk was called.

They should have known. Starter Mike Witt left the game after 10 innings with a 3-3 tie, having given his best performance of the season so far.

Reliever Bryan Harvey came in and retired the first six batters. But everyone knows a pitcher’s work is never completed until he comes to a complete stop.

Second base umpire Derryl Cousins called the balk with the bases loaded in the top of the 13th inning. Cleveland’s Julio Franco, who had singled to open the inning, had advanced to third on an error by Harvey. After Willie Upshaw’s sacrifice bunt, Harvey had thrown the ball into Upshaw’s back, allowing Franco to advance to third.

“I just hurried a little and hit him right in the back,” Harvey said.

But the most fateful moment was yet to come.

After intentionally walking Joe Carter to load the bases, Harvey was facing Mel Hall when second base umpire Cousins called the balk.

It was a fateful day all the way around. Cousins was originally supposed to be behind third base, but he was shifted to second after Rocky Roe, another umpire, slipped and fell before the game and was unable to work.

Franco scored the winning run in the Indians’ 4-3 victory at Anaheim Stadium, and the Angels’ frustrated manager, Cookie Rojas, was ejected. Rojas stormed out on the field, was given the thumb by Cousins, and took the opportunity to mimic the sign before leaving the field.

“To lose a game like that, that’s . . .,” Rojas said after the game. “But we’re not hitting. Mike Witt pitched a hell of a game and should have (won).”

The balk call ruined what had been Witt’s best outing of the year. Witt, who was 1-4 with a 5.44 earned-run average going into the game, was finally pulling out of his slump. He had pitched his first complete game of the season last Friday in a losing effort against Toronto.

Witt started the evening in fine fashion. He did not allow a hit until the third inning, while his opponent Rich Yett struggled, giving up three runs in the first inning. But the 3-0 lead ended in the third when Cleveland catcher Andy Allanson got on base and was driven in by Franco’s double.

Witt’s 10 innings equaled his career best, which occurred on June 6 of last year against the Chicago White Sox, a 2-0 victory. On Wednesday Witt gave up 7 hits and 3 runs and struck out 9. His previous strikeout high was seven, against Toronto on Friday.

“I felt pretty good out there, other than giving up the runs,” Witt said.

After the game, Harvey reviewed the balk call on videotape, in slow motion.

“It was close, but if they called it, I guess it was a balk,” Harvey said. “It’s a heck of a way to lose. It’s the first time I’ve been called.”

Welcome to the major leagues, 1988 style, Bryan Harvey.