Umpire Accused of Bias Against Reds

Manager Lou Piniella accused umpire Gary Darling of bias against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.

After Darling overruled first base umpire Dutch Rennert and called Bill Doran’s fly ball foul rather than a home run Saturday night, Piniella threw his hat, kicked dirt on home plate and first base, and argued at length after being ejected. The Reds went on to lose to the San Francisco Giants.

The Reds have been involved in several arguments this season with Darling, a fourth-year umpire.

“I honestly feel that Darling has bias against us and won’t give us a call all year,” Piniella said. “It’s time he gets his act together now. We have more complaints against him than against any other umpire.”