Boston, MA (SportsNetwork.com) - This time, Michael Pineda couldn't get away with using a foreign substance.
The New York Yankees pitcher was ejected in the bottom of the second inning of Wednesday's game against the Boston Red Sox after being found to have pine tar on the side of his neck.
After Pineda retired the first two batters he faced in the second, home plate umpire Gerry Davis was requested by Red Sox manager John Farrell to check the right-hander for illegal materials on his body.
Davis touched a brownish substance that appeared to be pine tar on the right side of the pitcher's neck and immediately tossed him from the game.
Pineda was involved in some controversy during a game against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium earlier this month after television cameras showed the hurler with a brown substance on his right palm. No protests were made by Farrell during that game, in which Pineda held Boston to one run over six innings in a 4-1 Yankees win.
The 25-year-old told reporters afterward that the material was simply dirt that had gotten stuck to his hand.
Pineda allowed two runs in the first inning prior to his ejection and was replaced by David Phelps on the mound.
[SportsNetwork.com]
