NEW YORK (AP) -Home plate umpire Jerry Layne was staggered by a foul bunt off his mask and left Saturday's game between the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees with a concussion.

Layne sustained a mild concussion and was to be kept in the hospital overnight for observation, Yankees spokesman Jason Zillo said.

Leading off the third inning, Kansas City's Joey Gathright tried to bunt Andy Pettitte's first pitch and fouled it straight back into the bottom part of Layne's mask.

The umpire stumbled backward a few feet and reached out for the arm of Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, who grabbed Layne and helped keep him upright. Layne was examined by New York trainer Gene Monahan for a couple of minutes, then walked off the field and was given a bottle of water.

Play was halted for about 15 minutes as second base ump Jim Wolf put on his gear to replace Layne behind the plate. The game resumed with three umpires and the Yankees won 12-11 after the teams played for 3 hours, 50 minutes, in 90-degree heat.

Now in his 20th major league season, the 49-year-old Layne has worked two All-Star games (1994 and 2001) as well as the 2005 World Series between the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.