Balk call helps sink Mets

It started out as a pickoff play and wound up as a balk, anejection and the play that may have determined the game.

With the Pittsburgh Pirates leading the host Mets by two runs inthe fourth inning Monday, New York called for a pickoff play thatstarts with John Olerud behind the first-base bag.

Crew chief Frank Pulli called the balk, the runner wound upscoring and Pittsburgh emerged with a 4-2 victory.Mets manager Bobby Valentine was ejected arguing the play.Baseball rules say pitchers can't throw to unoccupied bases, andPulli, the second-base umpire, ruled Olerud wasn't near the bag whenpitcher Bobby Jones threw over."This is not a play I called out of a Little …