League Denies Yankees’ Protest

The New York Yankees’ protest of last week’s 7-5 loss to Kansas City was denied Thursday by American League President Gene Budig.

“Under all the circumstances, unusual as they were, the umpires devised the most reasonable solution,” Budig said in a four-page decision.

With the bases loaded in the sixth inning and one out last Friday night, and New York ahead, 3-0, Jeff King hit a grounder to third base. Charlie Hayes fielded the ball and stepped on third, forcing out Jose Offerman, then threw wildly to first as Tom Goodwin scored.

Jay Bell, who was on first, had rounded third by the time first baseman Tino Martinez retrieved the ball and threw it back to the infield. Third base umpire Dale Ford mistakenly called Bell out for passing a runner, not realizing Offerman had been forced out and no longer was part of the play.

Kansas City argued and, after the umpires conferred, Bell was put on third and King on second. New York protested, arguing the original call should stand. Chili Davis then hit a two-run single that tied the game.

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The Toronto Blue Jays reacquired right-hander Mike Gordon when they claimed him off waivers from Cleveland. . . . Cuban defector Rolando Arrojo pitched in a Tampa Bay Devil Ray uniform for the first time, throwing two innings against the St. Louis Cardinals’ extended spring training team at St. Petersburg, Fla. Arrojo threw 32 pitches, including 22 strikes, with his fastball clocked at 95 mph. . . . The Twins put pitcher Bob Tewksbury on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 5. He cut his right middle finger when he caught it in the bathroom door on a bus during a trip last week.