jim joyce

Hirschbeck, 62, the crew chief in last year's World Series and a big league umpire since 1984, had announced his planned retirement last year.

Ventura also ignited tension in three straight starts, spanning two weeks, last April.

Tuesday night¿s game -- and the momentum of the Orioles' September push toward the postseason -- both took a turn for the worse in the eighth inning of Baltimore 7-5 loss to the Yankees at Camden Yards.

With the win, the Orioles (77-66) pulled within 1 ½ games of the second American League wild-card spot and moved 1 1/2 games ahead of the Yankees in the playoff chase.

Orioles catcher Matt Wieters expressed his displeasure with the way Eddings was called balls and strikes Tuesday, and he was ejected for the first time in his career.

Armando Galarraga, signed to a minor-league deal, hasn't been the same since his near-perfect game in 2010.