PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) -David Wright homered his first time up and the New York Mets tied the University of Michigan 4-4 Tuesday in an exhibition game worked by an umpiring crew of four women.
Wright hit a two-run homer in the first inning. Michel Abreu hit a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to tie it, and the game was called after the inning ended.
Jose Reyes went 1-for-2 with a double. Billy Wagner pitched a scoreless inning and the Wolverines nicked Aaron Heilman for a run.
“The pitchers all threw strikes, which you look for early in camp to pound the zone,” Mets manager Willie Randolph said.
The umpiring crew was unique, with Perry Barber at home plate, Mona Osborne at first base, Theresa Fairlady at second base and Ila Valcarcel at third base.
Fairlady reached the Double-A level in the late 1980s and Barber and Valcarcel went to the Harry Wendelstedt umpiring school in 2005 and work college games. Osborne is a former college umpire.
“It was a special day for me,” Valcarcel said. “It was my first experience working with major league players. Once the game started, I concentrated on making my calls.
“People in the stands would yell once in a while, saying, ‘good call, blue!’ on obvious calls,” she said. “It’s hard not to laugh sometimes.”
Valcarcel was the only woman who took part in Major League Baseball’s first West Coast umpire camp last fall. There was just one woman umpire in professional baseball last year, Ria Cortesio, and she was released from her Double-A contract after the season ended.
Add A Comment