Globale News » Both clubs are ready for this race to go right down

BOSTON -- Less than two weeks after pitching against Boston with what appeared to be pine tar on his pitching hand, the New York Yankees Michael Pineda was ejected from a game against the Red Sox on Wednesday night after umpires found a foreign substance on his neck. Cheap Nike Shoes Authentic . Boston manager John Farrell didnt alert umpires about brown goo on the lower part of Pinedas right palm during a 4-1 win over Boston at Yankee Stadium on April 10. Photos of Pinedas pitching hand that night sparked a debate about pitchers use of sticky substances to get a better grips in cool weather. With two outs and a 1-2 count on Grady Sizemore on Wednesday, Farrell left his dugout to talk with plate umpire Gerry Davis, who went to the mound. Davis touched the right side of the pitchers neck with his index finger then ejected Pineda as other umpires and Yankee infielders stood nearby. On a night with a game time temperature of 50 degrees, Farrell had said before batting practice: "I would expect if its used, its more discreet than last time." Pineda left with the Yankees trailing 2-0 after he allowed two runs and four hits in the first inning. He was replaced by David Phelps. Rule 8.02(b) says a pitcher shall not "have on his person, or in his possession, any foreign substance. For such infraction of this section the penalty shall be immediate ejection from the game. In addition, the pitcher shall be suspended automatically." "We will talk to the umpires tomorrow and review their report before taking any action," Major League Baseball spokesman Michael Teevan said. In recent suspensions of pitchers for pine tar, Tampa Bays Joel Peralta was penalized eight games in 2012, the Los Angeles Angels Brendan Donnelly 10 days in 2005 and St. Louis Julian Tavarez 10 days in 2004. The suspensions of Donnelly and Tavarez were cut to eight days after they asked the players association to appeal, and Peralta dropped his challenge with no reduction. In Pinedas previous start against the Red Sox, television cameras caught Pineda with what appeared to be sticky pine tar on his hand on a cool night. Farrell didnt see a photograph of Pinedas hand until the fourth inning; when Pineda came out to warm up for the fifth, his hand was clean. "In conditions like last night, its not uncommon for pitchers to try and get a grip in some way," Farrell said later. "Were more focused on what we need to do offensively to kind of get going rather than taking anything away from his abilities." Joe Torre, MLBs executive vice-president of baseball operations, said in a statement April 11 that Pineda would not be suspended for the substance on his hand. "The umpires did not observe an application of a foreign substance during the game, and the issue was not raised by the Red Sox," Torre said then. "Given those circumstances, there are no plans to issue a suspension, but we intend to talk to the Yankees regarding what occurred." Nike Shoes Sale . -- Raiders wide receiver Jacoby Ford made it through a third straight practice without any setbacks and expects to play in Oaklands regular-season finale against San Diego. Cheap Nike Shoes . -- Jack Del Rio only wanted to talk about the Cowboys, not the Trojans. https://www.wholesalenikeshoesauthentic.com/ . -- Max Domi scored twice and set up two more as the London Knights toppled the visiting Kingston Frontenacs 6-4 on Sunday in Ontario Hockey League action.OAKLAND, Calif. -- Unlike early September last year, the Oakland Athletics and Texas Rangers are neck and neck chasing the AL West title. Both clubs are ready for this race to go right down to the end -- again. Coco Crisp hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the fifth that was confirmed by a video review, and the As pulled into a first-place tie with Texas by beating the Rangers 4-2 on Monday. "You enjoy the race," As closer Grant Balfour said. "Id like to say were sitting here 10 games up." Yoenis Cespedes homered leading off the second inning and Chris Young added an RBI single in Oaklands fourth straight win. David Murphy hit a tying two-run shot in the Texas fifth for his first homer since Aug. 1. But the Rangers loaded the bases against Dan Otero with one out in the sixth and couldnt deliver. Crisp set a career high with his 17th homer that stayed just fair of the left-field foul pole, topping his 16 for Cleveland in 2005. He homered for the third straight game to help the As (79-58) move a season-best 21 games over .500. "I didnt think it was going to stay fair," he said. Crisp fouled a ball off the area below his right knee in the sixth. He stayed in and struck out, and then was removed for what the team called a shin contusion. Crisp said he felt fine afterward. In games so meaningful, he will do all he can to stay on the field. "Its a back and forth that kind of pumps your blood a little bit," Crisp said. "Obviously you want to be close or you want to be in front, in first place or as far in front as possible. Were fortunate were in the situation we are now." As lefty reliever Brett Anderson, pitching at home for the first time since April 29, worked a 10-pitch seventh, helped by Ian Kinslers inning-ending double play. Ryan Cook worked out of a jam in the eighth and Balfour finished for his 36th save in 38 tries as the Rangers left the tying run at second. "I was running on fumes," Balfour said of pitching for the fourth time in five days. "I was just trying to pitch with some guts." Oakland won for the seventh time in eight games and is hoping for another strong September like its 17-11 showing last year on the way to the West crown on the final day. The Rangers, who were unable to hold off streaking Oakland last year, fell out of sole possession of first place for the first time since Auug. Discount Nike Shoes. 9, the last time the As shared the lead. "I expect it to go all the way down to the end. Division champs over there," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "I dont expect them to go away and I certainly dont expect us to go away. Everything goes through Oakland. Doesnt matter where positioned in the standings right now." If Washington intended to put a target on the As, manager Bob Melvin quipped, "Ill flip it back to him." The Rangers had their three-game road winning streak snapped with just their third defeat in the last 15 games away from Arlington. Young singled in a second run for the As three batters after Cespedes connected for his 21st homer, against Derek Holland (9-7). Center fielder Leonys Martin missed the ball on Youngs base hit and it got past him for a two-base error. Young tried to score on the play and was thrown out at home after stumbling slightly rounding third. "Were playing OK, maybe not our best, and were tied for first with a team playing well, too," Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre said. "Well take our chances. Our destiny is in our hands." Top As prospect Michael Choice went 0 for 2 with a walk in his major league debut as the designated hitter. Dan Straily (8-7) pitched five innings to win back-to-back starts for the first time since early July, putting together two solid outings following a seven-start winless stretch in which he went 0-5. "You come out there and understand the magnitude of the situation, and youre very determined to get the job done," Straily said. Cespedes singled in the fifth for consecutive multihit games as the As began a stretch with 19 of their final 26 games against divisional opponents. Lance Berkman started at DH and went 0 for 4 one day after Texas activated him from the disabled list. He had been out since July 7 with left hip inflammation and a sore surgically repaired right knee. The Rangers won three of the teams first four series this year -- and, after this week, the clubs play once more in Arlington from Sept. 13-15. NOTES: Holland allowed more than one home run for just the third time all year. ... The As are 14-4 when Cespedes homers. ... Oakland is 20-22 vs. the West since May 19 compared to 41-18 against other opponents. ... The Rangers will recall RHP Ross Wolf and OFs Engel Beltre and Joey Butler on Tuesday. ' ' '