nd visits Cascadia Cup rival Vancouver next Saturday. Chivas was also without midfield | Forum

NEW YORK -- The last time the New York Yankees had been under . Wholesale Custom Shirts .500 during the second half of a season was in 1995, when Alex Rodriguez was a rookie shortstop with the Seattle Mariners.But after Michael Pineda allowed three homers in a 5-3 defeat to the Boston Red Sox on Friday night, New York has a losing record after the All-Star break for the first time in more than two decades.Rodriguez, who ended knuckleballer Steven Wrights perfect-game bid with two-out infield single in the fifth inning, took grounders at first base before the game. Having lost his everyday designated hitter job due to a season-long slump, A-Rod hopes to make himself more versatile as his 41st birthday approaches on July 27.Last year, I think I had over 600 at-bats, so the focus for me was to be in the lineup every day and do damage, Rodriguez said. I think this year is a different year, different circumstances, so Im open to it.Rodriguez has not played in the field this year. He had two appearances at first last season, playing the entire game April 11 against Boston and moving there for the final three outs of a blowout loss to Texas on May 23.Last year we were not able to get him comfortable. He wants to try it again, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. He came to us, and Im not going to deny a player a chance, in that sense, so the fact that he wants to try to get comfortable is a good sign.Rodriguez is hitting .221 with eight homers and 28 RBI in 190 at-bats, including .202 with five homers and 17 RBI in 129 at-bats against righties. A-Rod was 1 for 4 Friday night, when he made just his second start since June 30.I think its a mental test for him, in a sense, Girardi said. Physically, I think he has the skills. He has the hands. He has the ability to throw. He understands the game. So I think its more of a mental: Do I feel comfortable enough to go out there at first base?Girardi would like more options at first. Mark Teixeira, Dustin Ackley, Greg Bird and Chris Parmelee have all spent time on the disabled list. Now that hes back, Teixeira is restricted by his right knee.Four days has been about his limit. He gets fairly sore, Girardi said.A-Rod, whose contract runs through 2017, admitted lack of playing time sparked his decision.First base is a lot more challenging than I think people give it credit, he said. For me, its the most underrated part of a defensive team.Girardi also disclosed that struggling Nathan Eovaldi will rejoin the rotation Tuesday against Baltimore, a day after Ivan Nova starts the series opener. Eovaldi allowed two hits over 1 1/3 innings in his third relief appearance.New York is 45-46, 5 1/2 games back of the ALs second wild card and in danger of its first losing season since 1992. Only four Yankees had outstanding first halves: right fielder Carlos Beltran, and relievers Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman.Consistency is the word thats going to ring out loud here, Girardi said. Thats how you put long streaks together where you win six out of seven, you win 14 out of 17, if your starting pitching is consistent. Our offense has to be consistent, where we put up runs on a consistent basis. And the other thing I think is really important is the bullpen besides the last three guys.Beltrans two-run single and Brian McCanns RBI grounder in a three-run sixth were the offensive highlights for the Yankees, who managed four hits.Pineda (3-9) had his second straight poor performance, looking frustrated as he kicked at the mound after the long balls. He 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.Its just not executing when he needs to execute, Girardi said.The 10-game homestand, which ends with three games against San Francisco, likely will determine whether the Yankees start to deal veterans before the Aug. 1 trade deadline. Every loss increases the sense of urgency.Of course there is, Girardi said. You start to run out of days.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.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. Sabathia has allowed 22 runs -- 21 earned -- in his last four starts after giving up 15 earned runs in his first 11. Custom Shirts Cheap . Batiste, who briefly signed with the Eskimos in 2006, has spent time with several NFL teams including the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins. Custom Shirts Outlet . Peter Gammons, an analyst for Major League Baseballs network and website, drew the ire of hockey fans on Sunday when he criticized the two NHL teams on Twitter for their physical game the night before. http://www.shirtscustom.us/ .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland Timbers coach Caleb Porter let his players loose on Sunday against Chivas USA. The result was goals for Rodney Wallace, Diego Valeri and Will Johnson in a 3-0 Portland victory, which extended the teams unbeaten streak to nine straight matches. Porter didnt want the Timbers to get too caught up in the streak that everything that comes with it, so he gave them free rein against the Goats. "I told them to go out. Dont think. Be free. Play," Porter said following the match. Portlands undefeated streak is an ongoing franchise-best for the Timbers, who joined Major League Soccer in 2011. Portland (4-1-6) suffered its lone loss back on March 9 when the team fell 2-1 at home to Montreal. The victory pulls Portland even for the MLS lead with Dallas FC, which also has not lost in nine matches. Chivas (3-5-2) is in last place in the Western Conference. They have not won since a 2-1 victory over Vancouver on March 30. "My team is running. My team is fighting. My team is giving the effort," said Chivas coach Jose Luis Sanchez Sola, who is known as Chelis. "Its just not enough." The match was marred in the 86th minute when Chivas midfielder Mario de Luna pushed a ball boy after the kid picked up an out-of-bounds ball. De Luna was yellow carded, and because of a previous yellow, hell miss next Sundays match against Real Salt Lake. Afterward, both Porter and Chelis shook the ball boys hand. The Goats were without starting goalkeeper and captain Dan Kennedy because of a red card in last weeks loss to Sporting KC. Patrick McLain, in his MLS debut, allowed two goals after Kennedy was sent off in the 4-0 Chivas loss. McLain made his first league start against the Timbers while backupp goalkeeper Tim Melia continues to recover from a lower back injury. Custom Shirts Fast. McLain leapt with his arms outstretched but couldnt stop Wallaces left-footed rocket from just outside the left corner of the box in the 34th minute. Wallaces third goal of the season came off a pass from Ryan Johnson on a fast break. The Timbers made it 2-0 when a wide-open Valeri beat McLain in the 70th minute. Valeri blew kisses to the fans following the goal. Johnsons fourth goal of the season came in the 90th minute when his low kick skirted past several defenders and the reach of McClain. It was Portland goal keeper Donovan Ricketts fourth clean sheet of the season. "The chemistry is out there. Were all connected," Wallace said. "I think every single guy on this team -- whether theyre starting or not -- is giving their all." Portland visits Cascadia Cup rival Vancouver next Saturday. Chivas was also without midfielder Carlos Alvarez, who was suspended two games and fined an undisclosed amount by the MLS for violent conduct during the loss to Sporting KC. Alvarez, penalized for kicking the ball at Peterson Josephs head, will also miss the teams match against Real Salt Lake on May 19. Earlier this week, Chivas traded Juan Agudelo to the New England Revolution in exchange for allocation money. The forward had two goals this season for the Goats. Chivas USA won all three meetings with the Timbers last season. The Timbers Army supporters group co-ordinated for a fan display of a rainbow flag, unfurling a banner that said "Pride Not Prejudice" in recognition of International Day Against Homophobia this May 17. Attendance for the match was announced at 20,674, the Timbers 40th straight sellout. ' ' '