MLB denies Yanks’ protest

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball president Bob DuPuy has denied the formal protest filed by the New York Yankees after a disputed loss to the Florida Marlins.

New York manager Joe Girardi protested Sunday’s 6-5 defeat at Florida because of a Marlins substitution mix-up.

In the top of the eighth inning, Chris Coghlan started in left after manager Fredi Gonzalez had removed him in a double switch. Alejandro De Aza batted for pitcher Renyel Pinto in the seventh and was supposed to take over in left, but never ran on the field.

Leo Nunez threw a pitch, then Girardi protested. Coghlan was removed, Jeremy Hermida went to left and the Yankees protested, trailing 6-3 at the time.

Girardi thought Nunez should have been ruled out of the game.

Gonzalez said before the Marlins played the Orioles on Tuesday night he was relieved to learn the protest had been denied.

“For me, it wasn’t something you could protest but it’s embarrassing, big-time embarrassing,” Gonzalez said. “You’ve got 25 guys on the team and six coaches and staff members and 50,000 people in the stands and two million viewers, it’s not easy. You get the game protested and then an off-day. It was a tough couple days.

“By rule, Nunez was never out of the game,” Gonzalez said. “The only question was, put the right guy out there and where does he hit. That’s it.”