Triple Play Only Part of Story

Charlie Manuel dared the umpires to call a triple play and they obliged. The Indian manager also wanted a big win, and he got that too.

Manuel was ejected in the second inning after Baltimore turned a triple play that’s still difficult to describe.

There were some other strange sights Friday night at Jacobs Field--Mike Hargrove in the visitors’ dugout and Chuck Finley pitching through the seventh inning as the Indians defeated the Orioles, 5-2.

But Hargrove’s return to Cleveland and Finley’s strong outing were overshadowed by a disputed triple play that had everyone searching the rule book.

“To tell you the truth I thought they called it the right way,” Hargrove said.

Finley (11-10) had not pitched beyond 6 1/3 innings in his eight starts since July 14. But although the left-hander gave up several hard-hit outs, he was never in real trouble and got his second win since July 25. He gave up two runs and seven hits.

Wil Cordero had three hits off Sidney Ponson (7-10) and drove in a run as the Indians, who opened a 13-game homestand, remained first in the AL wild-card race.

It was a homecoming for Hargrove, Baltimore’s manager who guided the Indians to five consecutive AL Central titles and two World Series trips before getting fired last October.

Cal Ripken returned to Baltimore’s lineup for the first time since June 28 and went one for three.

In the second inning, the Orioles turned the 12th triple play in their history.

Cleveland had runners at first and second with none out when Sandy Alomar hit a pop fly into short left, about 15 feet off the infield dirt.

Shortstop Melvin Mora went back for the ball, but instead of catching it, he purposely let it drop. Indian runners, Travis Fryman at second and Cordero at first, never left their bases, thinking the infield-fly rule would be called.

But none of the umpires made a ruling, and Mora alertly threw to second baseman Jerry Hairston, who tagged Fryman for the first out. Meanwhile, Alomar, apparently thinking he was out automatically on the infield fly, went back to the Indians’ dugout. Cordero eventually was ruled out at first after several minutes of discussion.