With the Baltimore Orioles two outs away from defeating the New York Yankees on Wednesday, a light rain fell at Camden Yards.
The Orioles grounds crew members assumed their positions behind the tarp in foul territory along the first base line. Brett Gardner faced a 1-2 count with two runners in scoring position when umpire Tim Timmons, the third base umpire, called time and demanded the grounds crew leave the field.
The khaki-wearing crew jogged back to the corner and play resumed. Gardner drove in the go-ahead run on the next pitch and the Yankees led 4-3, which held as the final score and the Orioles lost their 99th game of the season.
“I didn’t ‘eject’ the grounds crew,” Timmons said in a text message to The Associated Press. “I just didn’t want all of them behind the tarp, especially with the infield in.”
Once the game ended, the grounds crew dutifully returned and covered the infield with the tarp.
Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB umpire tosses Orioles grounds crew from field vs. Yankees