Ron Karkovice can expect to hear something from American League President Bobby Brown regarding Friday night’s clash with plate umpire Brian O’Nora.
It won’t be a lunch invitation.
Karkovice was ejected by O’Nora after being called out on strikes and aggressively drawing a line in the dirt with his bat indicating the ball was outside. O’Nora said Karkovice bumped him during the ensuing quarrel, which could bring a suspension.
“That’s up to Dr. Brown,” said crew chief Greg Kosc.
“I don’t know if he was frustrated or what,” said O’Nora.
Karkovice wasn’t talking. “When I cool off,” he said, “I will.”
Tough series: Kosc, working the plate Saturday night, took heat from manager Gene Lamont for issuing a warning to both benches after Scott Sanderson, on a 1-2 pitch in the fifth, hit Turner Ward. Sanderson, who wasn’t thrilled either, said the warning would have been appropriate if there was any reason to suspect intent, but “that just wasn’t the case.”
In the eighth, Lamont was out again when nobody was ejected after Jesse Orosco hit Tim Raines, but relaxed about that later. “I think he did the second part right,” Lamont said.