BASEBALL Yankees manager Boone quickly serves 1-game suspension
The A’s will have Yankees manager Aaron Boone’s full attention when New York comes to Oakland for a crucial three-game series beginning Monday afternoon.
Boone found out Sunday he was suspended one game by Major League Baseball for nicking plate umpire Nic Lentz with his cap while arguing balls and strikes during an animated exchange Friday night. Boone also was fined an undisclosed amount.
He served the penalty Sunday when the Yankees hosted Detroit, with bench coach Josh Bard managing the team in an 11-7 loss to the Tigers.
With the A’s winning 8-2 over the Mariners, Oakland cut the Yankees’ hold on the first wild card to 41⁄2 games. The A’s hold the second wild card.
“Obviously, I got a little too close for comfort there, so that’s part of the deal. I just got to accept that,” Boone said. “Look, I was arguing. I got kicked out of the game. I reacted how I reacted. Unfortunately, I got a little too close, so I do regret that . ... I definitely shouldn’t have nicked his cap.”
Cheat sheets OK: Major League Baseball has told teams that it’s OK for pitchers to carry the kind of scouting cards that umpire Joe West confiscated from Philadelphia reliever Austin Davis during his outing Saturday.
Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said he’d been informed the cards were legal. They are, provided they don’t delay games, MLB advised clubs in clarifying the policy.
“I think it’s great that our pitchers are able to have their game plans on them,” Kapler said “I think it takes a lot of mental focus, takes a lot of bandwidth to get out the best hitters in baseball. And when you can just take a little of that off your mind and put it on a card, I think that’s helpful for pitchers and good for baseball.”
Red Sox report: Boston lefthanders Chris Sale (mild inflammation in left shoulder) and David Price (bruised left wrist) could return to the rotation next weekend, manager Alex Cora said.
Sale is 12-4 with a 1.97 ERA that leads the American League; Price is 14-6 with a 3.60 ERA.
For both starters, the Red Sox are looking at their return during Boston’s next homestand, which begins Friday with three games against Houston.
Sale, who has been on the disabled list since Aug. 15, could pitch a few innings as an “opener” as he builds up his stamina, Cora said.
Briefly: White Sox catcher Welington Castillo, who has been sidelined because of a shoulder injury, was activated from the DL. Castillo was injured during a minor-league conditioning assignment as he finished an 80-game suspension following a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance . ... Rangers outfielder Delino DeShields was activated from the DL. He has been sidelined because of a fractured right middle finger . ... Phillies first baseman Justin Bour, out since Aug. 23 because of a left oblique strain, was activated from the DL . ... Royals outfielder Jorge Soler (fractured left toe) experienced a setback in his rehab and will likely be shut down for the remainder of the season, manager Ned Yost said. ... The Braves reacquired outfielder Preston Tucker from the Reds for cash considerations. He was dealt to Cincinnati on July 30 for outfielder Adam Duvall.