Red Sox not pursuing protest against Rays over DH

BOSTON» The Red Sox are not pursuing a protest of a game at Tampa Bay this week, when conflict developed after the Rays designated hitter was removed.

Boston declined to file the required written protest after being advised by Major League Baseball that they would not win, general manager Dave Dombrowski said, according to a team spokesman..

Manager Alex Cora protested the game Wednesday after Tampa Bay reliever Adam Kolarek retired a batter, then shifted to first base as Rays manager Kevin Cash called in Chaz Roe from the bullpen. After Roe got Mookie Betts to fly out, Cash shifted Kolarek back to the mound and Nate Lowe came off the bench to play first.

Cora called for a meeting with the umpires, which led to a 15-minute stoppage. The game resumed with Kolarek on the mound.

Umpire crew chief Angel Hernandez allowed the change, saying that because Cash did not specify where Kolarek and the others would be placed in the lineup, by rule it became an umpire decision.

“In case the manager fails or refuses to make the decision, the plate umpire is authorized to decide the necessary batting order,” Hernandez said. “The umpire’s decision is final.”

Boston played the rest of the game under protest and lost 3-2.

Mets’ McNeil hopes HR convinces wife to OK puppy adoption.

Mets All-Star Jeff McNeil was working the phone Friday, hoping to acquire a promising, four-pawed prospect with the trade deadline looming.

McNeil video chatted with his wife, Tatiana, from Citi Field, pleading to bring home a puppy brought to the ballpark by the North Shore Animal League. With his spouse uncertain, McNeil clubbed a three-run homer in New York’s 6-3 win over Pittsburgh.

“Hitting a home run after holding a puppy, I think that gives me a little bargaining chip,” McNeil said. “My wife wants more homers, then we have to get a puppy.”

Brewers recall Shaw; likely out 2-4 weeks. Chacin

Infielder Travis Shaw, who slumped badly after hitting 63 homers over the previous two seasons with Milwaukee, was recalled Friday after almost a month at Triple-A San Antonio.

Shaw took the roster spot of right-hander Jhoulys Chacin, placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday and expected to miss two to four weeks. Chacin had an MRI that showed a strained lat instead of an oblique injury.

Shaw had 31 homers and 101 RBIs in 2017 and 32 homers the following season with Milwaukee. He was hitting .164 with six homers and 13 RBIs when he was sent down June 28.

A day after returning from IL, Scherzer has strained back.

WASHINGTON» Washington ace Max Scherzer received a stem cell shot to treat his strained back and hopes to make his next scheduled start Tuesday against Atlanta.

Scherzer returned from the injured list Thursday and in his first start since July 6 allowed three runs and four hits over five innings during an 8-7 loss to Colorado. He had been sidelined by inflammation under his right shoulder.

An MRI on Friday revealed the mid-back strain. Scherzer will not throw for two days.

A three-time Cy Young Award winner, Scherzwer was 7-0 with a 0.87 ERA in his previous seven starts before Thursday.