Ejection of Valentine lights the fuse as Boston edges NY in a tense game

The big stars from Boston haven't given the Yankees the most trouble. The problem has been Pedro Ciriaco and Felix Doubront.

Ciriaco blooped an RBI single in the 10th inning for his latest big hit against New York, sending the Red Sox to a 3-2 victory on Sunday night moments after Boston manager Bobby Valentine was ejected.

Ryan Sweeney hit an early two-run double for Boston, which took two of three in its first visit to Yankee Stadium this season despite grounding into four double plays against Hiroki Kuroda. The last-place Red Sox (51-51) left town 9 games behind the AL East leaders.

"We didn't really have a lot of opportunities," New York manager Joe Girardi said. "Doubront was tough on us, and he's been tough on us all three of his starts."

The 24-year-old lefty held the Yankees scoreless until Russell Martin homered leading off the seventh inning. Martin also hit a tying single with two outs in the eighth off closer Alfredo Aceves (2-6), who went the rest of the way for the win.

But the Red Sox put runners at the corners in the 10th for Ciriaco, who came through again. Called up July 6 from Triple-A Pawtucket, he is already a New York nemesis.

Ciriaco had go-ahead hits in all three Red Sox wins over the Yankees in nine meetings this season - including a ninth-inning triple Saturday. He is 11 for 22 with six RBI against New York.

"Fastball in, trying to jam him. We did just that," Martin said. "He found a hole. He caught a break."

Jarrod Saltalamacchia drew a leadoff walk from David Robertson (1-4) in the 10th, and Will Middlebrooks squared to bunt. Robertson's inside pitch appeared to deflect off Middlebrooks' right wrist, and the rookie yanked his hand away immediately as he spun to the ground.

The next thing the ball hit, however, was the left shin of plate umpire Brian O'Nora, who tumbled to the ground in pain. Trainers checked on Middlebrooks and O'Nora during a long delay, and Middlebrooks finally started toward first base.

But the umpires ruled it a foul ball and brought Middlebrooks back to home plate. Valentine engaged in a lengthy discussion with the umps that finally grew heated and animated. He was ejected by O'Nora and threw his chewing gum in foul territory before returning to the dugout.

"He heard it. That's what I take exception with," Valentine said. "No one saw anything. He just heard it. What are you going to do? I'm not going to say anything that's going to get me fined any more."

It was Valentine's third ejection in his first season with Boston, and the 40th of his managerial career. Moments later, Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett was tossed by third base umpire and crew chief Tom Hallion after apparently jawing from the dugout.

"The ball hit the bat," O'Nora said. "That's it."

(China Daily 07/31/2012 page9)