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NEW YORK -- A first-time All-Star at age 31, Steven Wright traveled across the country and never got to pitch.That gave the AL ERA leader an early start to the second half, and the knuckleballer pitched the Boston Red Sox over the New York Yankees 5-3 Friday night.Wright originally was slated to pitch Saturday, but Red Sox manager John Farrell called him at 3 p.m. Thursday and asked him to start the second-half opener.I wasnt expecting it, but I had a feeling there could be a good chance because I didnt throw in the All-Star Game, Wright said.Pitching on eight days rest, Wright (11-5) won for the eighth time in nine decisions. Ryan Hanigan, Travis Shaw and Xander Bogaerts homered off Michael Pineda (3-9) as Boston won its fifth straight.When Wright arrived in San Diego, AL manager Ned Yost informed the pitcher he likely would not appear.Its definitely a bummer, Wright said. I was going to be the emergency, because they didnt want to end in a tie, and I was the only guy that was capable of going multiple innings. And I was like, fine.He needed just 39 pitches to get through four innings against the Yankees and retired his first 14 batters before Alex Rodriguez hit a slow hopper the pitcher couldnt come up with on a bare-hand try about 45 feet from the plate on the third base side.There was quite a bit of violence to the knuckleball, Farrell said.New York closed the gap with a three-run sixth, when Wright hit Chase Headley on the thigh with a pitch and loaded the bases with a walk to Jacoby Ellsbury. Carlos Beltran had a two-run single on a ball that zipped past first baseman Hanley Ramirez and down the right-field line, and Brian McCann hit an RBI grounder as Ramirez bounced his throw to second, eliminating the possibility of an inning-ending double play.I gave up one hard-hit ball the entire night. It just happened to be with the bases loaded, Wright said.He improved to 4-1 against the Yankees, allowing three runs and three hits in six innings as his ERA rose from 2.68 to 2.78.Hanigans third-inning homer was his first since last Aug. 19 off Clevelands Corey Kluber, and the ball was caught by reliever Robbie Ross Jr., who stuck out his cap to snag it in the visitors bullpen in left field.When that ball was hit, I was like, that balls going out, Im going right for it. I got 4 1/2, Ross said of his season total. The half was the one where Brock (Holt) hit it off the top of the fence and I caught it.Shaw hit a two-run homer in the fifth, and Bogaerts made it 5-0 with a two-run drive in the sixth.It kind of looked like we needed a time through the order to get back in sync after the break, Farrell said.Brad Ziegler and Ross followed Wright with an inning apiece, and Koji Uehara finished the four-hitter for his fifth save, his third since closer Craig Kimbrel hurt a knee.Pineda (3-9) gave up five runs and five hits in five-plus innings, leaving him with a 5.56 ERA and 18 home runs allowed in 18 starts this season. New York (44-45) is under .500 after the All-Star break for the first time since 1995.Its one game, guys, Beltran said. We have to focus on winning series, especially against teams that are in our division.IN THE SEATSIndiana Gov. Mike Pence, announced by Donald Trump as his pick for Republican vice presidential nominee, was in the crowd of 47,459, the Yankees fourth home sellout this season.WHAT, ME WORRY?David Ortiz laughed at the notion his comments this week that Boston should sign Edwin Encarnacion to replace him next season could be construed as improper.Tampering? I dont write no paycheck, Ortiz said. I can say whatever I want. Im not a GM or a team owner. If I say tomorrow that I want to play with LeBron James, am I tampering, too?TRAINERS ROOMRed Sox reliever Junichi Tazawa, on the disabled list with a right shoulder impingement, threw a 25-pitch bullpen. He has another session scheduled for Sunday and likely will be activated when he becomes eligible Tuesday. ... RHP Joe Kelly allowed a hit in two innings and struck out three for Triple-A Pawtucket against Charlotte. ... Ramirez and Holt played for the first time since July 8 against Tampa Bay, when Ramirez fouled a ball off his left shin and Holt sprained his left ankle.UP NEXTLHP CC Sabathia (5-6) is scheduled to start Saturday for New York, and LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (1-3) for Boston following his recall from the minors on Friday. Rodriguez is 3-1 with a 2.22 ERA in four career starts against the Yankees. Cheap Air Jordan 1 Canada Sale . I cant pinpoint a date, but I do remember a player from my youth. Brian Downing was with the Chicago White Sox at a time when I listened to every game I possibly could on the radio. That particular season the late great Harry Caray was calling the White Sox games. Air Jordan 1 Canada Sale .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras. http://www.airjordan1canada.com/ . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. Cheap Air Jordan 1 Canada . One game after a miserable showing in Oklahoma City, Gay tied a career high with 41 points and the Sacramento Kings cruised to a 114-97 victory at the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Wholesale Air Jordan 1 Canada .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Mickey Arthur, the Pakistan coach, has admitted having sleepless nights pondering the balance of the side for the final Test against England as they search for a series-levelling victory.Having been in control at Edgbaston, and holding a realistic chance of coming to The Oval 2-1 up themselves, they now have to dig deep into their resolve after a final-day collapse.There were a lot of good things for us out of the last Test. I certainly did not feel that we ever rolled over there, Arthur said. We were in the contest for most of that game. Ive taken a lot of positives out of that and reinforced the positives with the chaps.I counted we probably won five sessions, England won three. The sessions England won, they won convincingly.Before their demise over the last two sessions in Birmingham, Pakistans chances of winning had slipped away when the four-man attack tired on the fourth evening, allowing Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali to produce a game-changing partnership of 152 in 29 overs.I said to the boys, we were probably one wicket away there from breaking through, Arthur said. If we could have knocked Bairstow over or Moeen early, it certainly would have put a totally different perspective on the game.Pakistans lack of an allrounder - in stark contrast to England - has been a running theme throughout the series with Mohammad Hafeezs inability to bowl being a major problem. There are no easy fixes to the problem, but Arthur hinted that Iftikhar Ahmed, who bowls offspin, could come into consideration.Yes, he is an option, Arthur said. He bowls offspin and decently, England have a lot of left handers so he does give us an option as a fifth bowler if he comes in. But we have to be dead certain he can come into our top six and get runs, because well be asking for runs first and bowling second.If Iftikhar was to come in for his Test debut it would be Hafeez who would likely make way after his twin failures at Edgbaston, completed with an horrendous shot in the second innings when he pulled to long leg. That would probably entail Azhar Ali being promoted to open alongside Sami Aslam.Arthur even floated the notion of a fifth specialist bowler, calling it the very positive option, but it is hard to see that happening with the length of tail Pakistan already have and which England exploited twice at Edgbaston.Its certainly one of the options, but whoever comes in somebody has got to bat middle order, which makes it a particularly long tail, he said. Thats a veryy positive way to go.dddddddddddd Its one that weve thought about and one I lay in bed thinking about it last night. Thats a very positive option because weve got to get 20 wickets in this Test match. Weve got to work through that one.One of the key reasons that Pakistans attack has been under pressure is that England have countered Yasir Shah impressively since Lords. In the last two Tests he has combined figures of 4 for 502 having claimed 10 for 141 in the opening Test.After a difficult Old Trafford outing, Yasir performed an impressive holding role in the first innings at Edgbaston - sending down 25 unchanged - but in Englands second innings was taken for 172 off 43 overs, showing as much weariness as the quick bowlers by the end.They have played the legspinner very well but we have to remember hes been used in a defensive role, Arthur said. We bowled first at Edgbaston, there wasnt a hell of a lot on offer, and at Old Trafford so he hasnt had the luxury of bowling with runs on the board.Im hoping we can get runs on board here, it turns a bit and theres a bit of bounce - and thats a legspinners best friend. I actually think hes bowled extremely well in both roles - attacking and defending.If Pakistan are to level the series at The Oval - a ground where they have not authentically lost since 1967; they were in control of the controversial 2006 Test - they will need a key performance from Yasir, but their cause would also be helped by runs from Younis Khan.Younis has had a poor series with 122 runs in six knocks, his innings typified by extravagant movements around the crease which have twice played a part in him being caught down the leg side.As the Pakistan squad were given a quiet day of light training on Tuesday, Younis had an extended net on the square receiving throwdowns from Grant Flower.Im very confident he can make a contribution, Arthur said. Hes been very open to us speaking about some technical things, he has trained the house down and the hunger is there. Ive been really impressed with how hes handled it.Watching him train and go about his business, he still tops the fitness charts, hes one of the fittest in the team, his diet is exemplary. Hes so professional on and off the field. Put it this way, hes giving himself the best chance to perform and Ill take my hat off to chap like that any day of the week. ' ' '