Orioles Grounds Crew Tossed By Ump

On Wednesday evening, Baltimore's grounds crew thought they were in for a routine night at the ballpark: toss on some team-issued gear, watch the Orioles lose, reminisce about Cal Ripken Jr., see if the young guys remember Brady Anderson, spit some seeds...Then things took a turn and the entire grounds crew ended up ejected from the game.

The Orioles were leading the Yankees 3-2 in the top half of the ninth when umpire Tim Timmons gave the entire grounds crew the heave-ho. Fortunately for the crew, they hit the showers in plenty of time to miss the Orioles blow a one-run lead. New York knocked in two runners in the ninth to take the lead before a three up, three down situation unfolded in the bottom half of the inning. The loss was Baltimore's 99th on the season, the worst loss total in the entire league.

Everyone from the grounds crew, to the players, to the broadcasters were left wondering why exactly the guardians of the diamond were sent packing. The crew had been perched behind the field's tarp, awaiting Mother Nature's entrance when they were tossed.

Though Timmons could clearly be seen directing the crew to exit stage left, the umpire denied that was his intention. "I didn't 'eject' the grounds crew," texted Timmons to The Associated Press. "I just didn't want all of them behind the tarp, especially with the infield in."