Belcher Calls Umpire ‘an Embarrassment’

Kansas City pitcher Tim Belcher, ejected in the first inning, called umpire Joe Brinkman as “an embarrassment to his profession” in a written statement after the Royals’ 9-5 victory over Seattle on Friday at Kansas City.

“I was baited, I was ejected, and I apologize to our team and fans. No apology EVER to umpire Brinkman,” the statement read in part. “Umpire Brinkman’s on-field attitude is an embarrassment to his profession.

“Paying little attention to his ability, mechanics or lack thereof, his demeanor is what drives most AL players into confrontations with him.”

Belcher and Brinkman were jawing at each other, then as Belcher bent down to tie his shoe, Brinkman walked to the mound, exchanged words again, and tossed him. As teammates restrained Belcher, Royal Manager Bob Boone charged out and began yelling at Brinkman. Boone was also ejected.

Detroit 6, New York 5--The Tigers ended a seven-game losing streak when Travis Fryman’s two-out bloop single in the bottom of the ninth inning gave them the victory.

The victory ended an 11-game home losing streak for the Tigers. It was only Detroit’s second victory in its last 21 games.

Boston 10, Milwaukee 7--Pinch-hitter Reggie Jefferson hit a two-run home run and Jose Canseco hit his second homer of the game in the eighth inning as the Red Sox rallied from a 7-1 deficit at Boston.

The Red Sox trailed, 7-6, when pinch-hitter Bill Selby led off the eighth with a double to center, and Jefferson homered to give the Red Sox the lead. Jeff Frye walked, and, two outs later, Canseco hit Boston’s fifth homer of the game.

Chicago 8, Baltimore 2--Alex Fernandez (6-3) scattered 11 hits as the White Sox ended the Orioles’ four-game winning streak, hitting three homers at Baltimore.

Tony Phillips, Ron Karkovice and Robin Ventura homered off Scott Erickson (3-5), who had yielded only two homers in 63 1/3 innings this season.

Roberto Alomar homered for Baltimore and went two for four, raising his average to .408 and his hitting streak to 21 games.

Texas 10, Toronto 7--Dean Palmer and Rusty Greer drove in three runs each, overshadowing a big night by Carlos Delgado as the host Rangers defeated the Blue Jays.

The Rangers led, 5-0, one out into the game off Toronto rookie Marty Janzen (3-2), then added two runs in the fourth, one in the fifth and two in the sixth.

Delgado tried keeping the Blue Jays close as he went four for five with four runs batted in, including his first home run since May 2. He also doubled twice and had a bases-loaded single in the seventh.

Oakland 6, Minnesota 4--Mark McGwire hit his 14th home run and Ernie Young had two hits, drove in a run and scored once to lead the A’s to the victory at Minneapolis.

The A’s jumped on Brad Radke (4-5) for two runs in the first. Brent Gates tripled home Young and scored on Jason Giambi’s single. Oakland stretched its lead to 3-0 on Young’s run-scoring single in the second.