Spray of Day: Alomar Puts Orioles In

TORONTO —  The rift between Roberto Alomar and umpire John Hirschbeck escalated Saturday when the umpire charged into the Baltimore Orioles’ clubhouse in an effort to attack the second baseman.

Alomar was suspended for five games by the American League for spitting in Hirschbeck’s face Friday night after the umpire ejected him for arguing a called third strike.

Alomar immediately appealed the suspension, meaning he would play in the final two games of the regular season--Saturday and today--at Toronto. The suspension was not supposed to include the playoffs.

The all-star second baseman hit a 10th-inning home run a few hours after the suspension was announced to put the Orioles into the playoffs with a 3-2 victory over the Blue Jays, his former team. Alomar was 0 for 4 before hitting his 22nd homer and propelling Baltimore into the postseason for the first time since 1983.

Alomar had been jeered by the Toronto fans throughout the game, but as the ball soared over the fence, he lifted both arms in triumph.

“I just had to come today and battle,” Alomar said. “It was a difficult situation for me.”

The victory clinched the AL wild-card berth for the Orioles, who will face Cleveland in the first round of the best-of-five playoffs starting Tuesday night at Camden Yards.

An attorney for the players’ union, Michael Weiner, said that Alomar’s appeal means he can continue playing until the appeals hearing. Weiner said that hearing probably would be during spring training next year.

After Friday’s game, Alomar said of Hirschbeck, “I used to respect him a lot. He had a problem with his family when his son died--I know that’s something real tough in life--but after that he just changed, personality-wise. He just got real bitter.”

Hirschbeck’s 8-year-old son died of a rare brain condition known as ALD three years ago. The often-fatal genetically transmitted disease was portrayed in the movie “Lorenzo’s Oil.” The umpire’s 9-year-old son is also afflicted with the malady, umpire Jim Joyce said.

Hirschbeck was told by reporters of Alomar’s comment in the umpire’s dressing room Saturday morning, and immediately went into a profanity-laced tirade.

“He brings up my son? I see him on street and I’ll . . . ,” Hirschbeck said before calling Alomar a series of names.

At that point, Jim McKean, head of the umpire crew, wrapped his arms around Hirschbeck and asked reporters to leave the room.

The incident didn’t end there. Moments later, Hirschbeck charged into the Orioles’ clubhouse, yelling that he would “kill” Alomar. Joyce, another member of the umpire crew, chased after him and grabbed the umpire before he could reach Alomar.

Alomar, who was not in the clubhouse at the time, said after the game, “I apologize to him. We didn’t understand each other. What happened last night was the heat of the moment, and we’ll just leave it at that.”

Hirschbeck did not work the game Saturday at McKean’s request. The umpires called the game with a three-man crew, and the umpires also planned to work today’s game without Hirschbeck.

The incident began when Hirschbeck tossed Alomar from Friday’s game after the player continued to question a strike call. After being ejected, Alomar charged from the dugout and had to be restrained by Baltimore Manager Davey Johnson, who wasn’t able to stop Alomar from spitting in Hirschbeck’s face.

“I’ve never seen anything like this in the big leagues. I’ve never had it happen to me nor has anyone else,” Hirschbeck said Saturday. “To me, he’s more of a man to take a swing. You spit in someone’s face, that’s first-grade stuff.”

“I did spit at him--after he called me a bad name,” Alomar said Friday. “[There’s] no reason for him to call me what he did. . . . I don’t regret it.”

Hirschbeck said: “I can honestly say I did not call him a name. But after [he spit], I did. Of course he’s going to say I called him a name. That’s his alibi.”

It wasn’t the first time that Alomar and Hirschbeck had exchanged heated words.

“I’ve had a problem with him before,” Alomar said. “We had a game in Oakland last year and he called me out on a close play at third when the guy didn’t tag me.”

McKean was outraged at Alomar’s actions on Friday night and suggested that the five-game suspension was too light.

“We’ve had bumpings, we’ve had fights, we’ve had sprays when you argue back and forth, but I’ve never really seen a ballplayer try and directly spit in an umpire’s face,” he said. “Only animals spit in people’s face.”

“We’re both human beings and we both made mistakes,” Alomar said. “Right now I’m not going to think about it. I’m going to think about Cleveland.”