|
NEW YORK, N. Cary Williams Eagles Jersey .Y. - With a little help from the replay room, Carlos Beltran and the banged-up Yankees did just enough to hold off Boston. Beltran hit a two-run homer, Ivan Nova rebounded from a rough outing, and New York beat the Red Sox 3-2 Sunday night with the aid of another disputed video review that led to the ejection of Boston manager John Farrell. "Extremely difficult to have any faith in the process thats being used," Farrell said. Ichiro Suzuki robbed David Ortiz of extra bases in the eighth inning, crashing into the outfield fence for a spectacular catch, and New York took three of four in the first series of the season between the longtime rivals. Beltran had three hits and was pressed into his first career appearance at first base when Francisco Cervelli was injured. "We have to do what it takes," Beltran said. "I hope I dont have to do it again." Mike Napoli homered and Felix Doubront (1-2) went 6 2-3 innings for the Red Sox, who scratched star second baseman Dustin Pedroia due to a sore left wrist. New York, playing without Derek Jeter for the second consecutive game, scored its third run with the benefit of instant replay in the fourth. With runners at the corners and one out, the Red Sox thought they turned an inning-ending double play on Cervellis grounder. First base umpire Bob Davidson called Cervelli out on a bang-bang play, and Cervelli grabbed his right hamstring as he tumbled to the ground. Yankees manager Joe Girardi challenged the call, which was overturned after a 3-minute replay review. That gave New York another run and a 3-1 lead. Farrell, surely still bothered by a replay review that curiously went against Boston the day before, pointed to his eyes as he argued with two umpires. He was quickly ejected by Davidson. Managers arent allowed to argue replay rulings. "We felt it was clear that the replay was inconclusive," Farrell said. "Any angle that we looked at, you couldnt tell if the foot was on the bag behind Mike Napolis leg." Major League Baseball acknowledged it made the wrong call on a replay challenge that went against the Red Sox during New Yorks 7-4 victory Saturday. "Where this became conclusive is a hard pill to swallow," Farrell said. "On the heels of yesterday, its hard to have any faith in the system." Suzuki entered to run for Cervelli, who was filling in at first base for injured Mark Teixeira. When the Yankees took the field in the fifth, Suzuki was in right field, and Beltran moved from right field to first base — with Cervellis mitt. "Thank God nobody hit the baseball to me," said Beltran, who made three putouts. It was the first time Beltran had played any infield position in his 16-year career. Jeter was getting a rest and oft-injured second baseman Brian Roberts was sidelined with a sore back, preventing Girardi from shuffling his infielders after Cervelli went down. "I didnt have a whole lot of choices tonight," Girardi said. "Just tells you the type of player he is. ... Willing to do anything you ask him to do. Very, very unselfish." David Phelps struck out pinch-hitter Mike Carp with the bases loaded to end the eighth, pumping his fist as he bounced off the mound. Shawn Kelley struck out two in a perfect ninth for his third save. Jacoby Ellsbury made a sliding catch in left-centre to end it. Nova (2-1) received a warm ovation after giving up two runs and eight hits with no walks in 7 1-3 innings. He was tagged by Baltimore for seven runs and 10 hits over 3 2-3 innings during a 14-5 loss in his previous outing. "I thought he had better command of his curveball tonight, which was a huge difference," Girardi said. Jonathan Herrera started in Pedroias place and had an RBI single to go with a sensational defensive play. Fans in the crowd of 46,081 chanted Jeters name when Yankees infielder Yangervis Solarte came up limping in the sixth. Solarte stayed in the game. Jeter was out of the lineup for the second straight day after feeling tightness in his right quadriceps Friday night. Girardi said he could have played Jeter, but wanted to give him three days off in a row — the Yankees have a day off Monday. NOTES: Red Sox OF Shane Victorino (strained right hamstring) ran the bases again and, like Pedroia, was headed to Boston for a checkup on Monday. If that turns out OK, Victorino is on track to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Double-A Portland, Farrell said. ... Cervellis injury left the Yankees with no natural backup for catcher Brian McCann, shaken up in the eighth when Phelps hit A.J. Pierzynski with a pitch, and the ball deflected off McCanns right index finger. McCann, who stayed in the game, said he would have X-rays, but he was OK. "I knew the situation," McCann said. "We got by with a win." Jeremy Maclin Jersey . The Winnipeg Jets head coach, whose parents are French-Canadian, lost much of his mother tongue the result of playing and coaching hockey in the U.S. but still speaks enough to get by. Casey Matthews Jersey . The stadium gasped. Reliever Drew Storen, already with men on first and second with none out in the seventh inning of a tie game, was on the ropes. Then Storen threw Stanton a slider. Swing and a miss. Strike three. Momentum shifted. Two popouts later, the inning was over with no damage done, and the Washington Nationals scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the inning to take a 4-3 win over the Miami Marlins.COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Michael Sam was just another recruit when he left his small Texas hometown and arrived in Missouri. Playing for the Tigers, he turned into a private loquacious leader ready to make a trailblazing announcement. The defensive star wants to become the first openly gay NFL player. "I told him: This is going to be mammoth," coach Gary Pinkel said Monday, a day after Sam came out to the world. "I dont have a word, OK, for how big this is going to be." Its a bigger deal for the older generation. Sams teammates and acquaintances easily made the adjustment, plus he proved himself on the field. "Hes a leader," former 49ers great running back Roger Craig said. "I would definitely welcome him on my team. Id play with him any day. I like people who stand up for themselves." Sam revealed he was gay at one of the football teams get-acquainted dinners last summer hosted by Pinkel and assistant coaches. The next day, Pinkel said, Sam told the entire team. Realizing the enormity of the situation, Pinkel left the next move up to the senior who blossomed into one of the best defensive ends in the country -- and one surrounded by teammates who didnt worry one bit about sexual orientation or reveal his secret until he came out on Sunday. Athletes across the campus approve. "Love is love," basketball guard Jordan Clarkson said. "Thats their personal life." Pinkel, athletic director Mike Alden and other school officials applauded Sams courage Monday at Faurot Field. As a backdrop, the first two letters of Sams last name were etched in snow to join the giant "M" just beyond the north end zone. "Pretty cool," Pinkel said. Coaches and Sam agreed that making an announcement during the season might be a distraction. It was Sams call to skip all the weekly media days and postgame news conferences, too, the better to avoid the risk of the topic coming up. Sam broke his silence prior to the Cotton Bowl and the conversation stayed on football, just like he wanted. Sam was prompted to make his decision to come out after the Senior Bowl, where it became apparent the players sexual orientation was widely known. This meant a declaration just days before the NFL ccombine and shouldering the pressure that goes along with the historic declaration. LeSean McCoy. "Its very clear that everybody in the NFL knew," said Howard Bragman, a consultant hired by Sams agent to help manage the announcement in the media. The NFL and many others, including the White House, publicly applauded Sams decision. President Barack Obamas spokesman, first lady Michelle Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden all called him a courageous and inspirational athlete. But now, after a few high-profile interviews, its back to silent Sam. The fifth level of the stadium was jammed with dozens of reporters for Mondays news conference but there was no sign of the star attraction. Bragman said Sam was travelling Monday to a camp at an undisclosed location where hell prepare for the combine. Though hes been a most reticent public speaker, Pinkel described Sam as a virtual chatterbox. "He drove me crazy a lot of times, he doesnt shut up sometimes," Pinkel said with a chuckle. "He talks and talks and talks. "You always know hes in with my secretary because I can hear him and I have to close the door -- I cant concentrate." Sam arrived at Missouri without fanfare. Rivals.com gave him just two stars when he was coming out of Hitchcock High School. He had 10 career starts before his breakout senior season. The All-America defensive end led the Southeastern Conference with 11 1/2 sacks and 19 tackles for loss. He was the co-SEC defensive player of the year. But Sam has been projected as a mid-level NFL draft pick, probably because hes a bit undersized at 6-foot-2 and 255 pounds and is likely headed for a transition to outside linebacker. Pinkel doesnt think the announcement will hurt Sams draft status. "Our team was able to move past it and work together," defensive line coach Craig Kuligowski said. "So why shouldnt a bunch of professional football players be able to do the same thing?" There have been a few NFL players who have come out after their playing days, including Kwame Harris and Dave Kopay. "There will be some adjustments that will have to be made, sure," Craig said. "I think it will be a learning curve for the whole league." ' ' ' |
