Home plate umpire Gerry Davis checks out the hand of Michael Pineda #35 of the New York Yankees in front of teammate Derek Jeter #2 before throwing him out of the game in the second inning against the Boston Red Sox during the game at Fenway Park on April 23, 2014 in Boston.
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Right-hander Michael Pineda has been writing a nifty comeback story so far this season, bouncing back from missing two years after shoulder surgery.
But Wednesday night, Pineda added a dreadful chapter to his story.
After getting away with allegedly using pine tar on his pitching hand against the Boston Red Sox in New York on April 10, Pineda was thrown out of the game Wednesday for having pine tar on his neck — for all the world to see.
“I’m not going to get mad at him,” manager Joe Girardi said. “I don’t think he’s trying to get an edge on anyone. He’s a young man who’s been through a lot, been through a lot of rehab. He made an error in judgment.”
General manager Brian Cashman said the organization was “embarrassed” and that he expects a suspension for his pitcher. Pineda said he was just trying to get a grip on the ball and said “it won’t happen again.”
The bottom line, though, was the Yankees lost the game 5-1 and, after losing Ivan Nova for the season, now face what looks like at least a two-start suspension for Pineda.
