Michael Pineda ejected from game in second inning for apparently using pine tar

Yankees starter Michael Pineda was ejected from his start against the Red Sox Wednesday night after home plate umpire Gerry Davis determined the pitcher had what appeared to be a significant amount of pine tar on the right side of his neck. Davis was alerted to the substance by Red Sox manager John Farrell  with two outs and Grady Sizemore at bat, with the righty having already thrown 40 pitches and given up two first-inning runs. The umpire proceeded to come out to the mound, checking Pineda's glove and hand before identifying the pine tar on his neck. Cameras showed Pineda did not have the substance on his neck in the first inning. Rule 8.02 of in the Major League Rulebook states: '€œThe pitcher shall not apply a foreign substance of any kind to the ball.'€ (Click here for the rule.) Pineda had come under scrutiny in his previous start against the Red Sox (April 10), possessing what appeared to be a significant amount of pine tar on his wrist. (For a recap of that incident, click here.) Farrell had said after the previous appearance that the Red Sox didn't notice the discoloration until it was too late, with Pineda having cleaned off the substance when coming on for the fifth inning. Michael Phelps replaced Pineda, striking out Sizemore to end the second.