er with 30 points, just two behind the fourth-placed Bulldogs.Given the Cowboys (205) hold a huge differential advantage over the

BOSTON -- Yankees manager Joe Girardi didnt budge from the plan he outlined to Alex Rodriguez before New York opened a three-game series against the rival Red Sox.A-Rod will only start the final game of the series on Thursday. Meanwhile, Girardi said after New York lost to Boston 5-3 on Tuesday night that he and the rest of the Yankees will continue focusing on staying in the AL wild card race rather than get caught up in any sentiment about the sluggers pending release.I know he wants to play. Thats normal. I mean who wouldnt want to play? Girardi said. Ive got to do what I think is right for the club.Rodriguez stayed on the bench all night. Even with the Yankees rallying in the ninth, Girardi stuck with the lineup he filled out before the game.Red Sox fans chanted We want A-Rod! -- among other things -- but Girardi wasnt really listening. He said if he thought using Rodriguez as a pinch hitter was the right move, he would have made it.I dont know. How am I supposed to react? Girardi said. Its part of it. Im sure Im going to hear it, but Ive got to do what I think is best.Rick Porcello continued to dominate at Fenway Park with eight solid innings and then Matt Barnes cleaned up a mess created by closer Craig Kimbrel for Boston.Kimbrel walked in a run with the bases loaded in the ninth before handing off to Barnes, who struck out Mark Teixeira for his first save.After falling behind early, the Red Sox scored three runs in the fifth to lead 5-2. Boston has won 10 of the last 14 meetings between the rivals. Dustin Pedroia had three RBI.Porcello (15-3) allowed two runs and struck out six. He improved to 11-0 in 12 starts at home this season.Luis Severino (1-7) allowed five runs and seven hits over 4 1/3 innings. It was his first start since being demoted to the minors in May.A-Rod will play his final game in pinstripes Friday night at home against Tampa Bay. Rodriguez expressed disappointment before the game about Girardis decision, but said he accepted it.Rodriguez made his major league debut for Seattle at Fenway in 1994.I did talk to him about it. I wanted to play Wednesday and Thursday. I thought it would be a great way to end at Fenway, he said.Things got tense for a moment in the seventh inning after Chase Headley was thrown out trying to stretch his double off the Green Monster into a triple. Benches cleared after Headley had words with Porcello, and the two briefly came face-to-face. Umpires quickly stepped in and were able to calm things.The Red Sox played catch up until putting things together in the fifth.Andrew Benintendi nearly had his first career homer after hitting a shot next to the yellow line that separates the Green Monster and the wall in center. The umpires conferred briefly before signaling a home run. Benintendi rounded the bases and had a few minutes in the dugout before the call was overturned on a review and ruled a double.It still drove in Sandy Leon, who led off with a triple to the corner in right, and put Boston up 3-2.Benintendi scored on a double by Pedroia, and the second baseman came around to put Boston up 5-2 when David Ortiz hit a line drive off the Green Monster.NEW ADDITIONNew York claimed LHP Tommy Layne off waivers and placed him on the active roster, one week after the Red Sox designated him for assignment. Layne made his Yankees debut when he came out of the bullpen in the fifth and replaced Severino.TRAINERS ROOMYankees: RHP Conor Mullee had ulnar nerve decompression surgery on his right elbow in New York, the team said.Red Sox: LF/C Blake Swihart (left ankle sprain) needs surgery and is likely done for the season.UP NEXTYankees: RHP Nathan Eovaldi (9-8, 4.80) leads the club in wins despite losing his last two starts, allowing a pair of home runs in each.Red Sox: LHP Drew Pomeranz (0-2, 6.20 in AL) is still looking for his first win since coming to Boston in a trade with San Diego on July 14. Pomeranz was 8-7 with the Padres and made the NL All-Star team with an ERA of 2.47. Dave Cash Jersey . Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee? Green had bounced around the NBA when he wasnt playing overseas. The Pacers gave up on Plumlee after just one season. Now Green and Plumlee are key cogs in the Suns surprising breakout season. Nick Pivetta Jersey . -- Stanfords Kevin Danser knelt on one knee and hardly moved on the sideline as Michigan State celebrated its Rose Bowl victory and his Cardinal teammates made their way to the locker room. https://www.cheapphilliesjerseys.us/ . The incident occurred at 19:56 of the second period of the Kings 4-2 road win over Edmonton on Sunday. Nolan punched Oilers forward Jesse Joensuu in the jaw in front of the Kings goal during a scrum. Brett Myers Jersey .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open. Richie Allen Jersey . That left plenty of energy for pitching books and swatting away free agency questions. Anthony had 24 points and nine rebounds, and the Knicks avenged an embarrassing home loss with a rout of their own, beating the Boston Celtics 114-88 on Wednesday night for their third straight victory. North Queensland champion Johnathan Thurston holds no fear about seeking an NRL top four spot against former club Canterbury at Belmore next Thursday.The Cowboys 34-6 win over the Warriors in Townsville on Saturday night has turned the clash with the Bulldogs into a potentially decisive one in the race for the top four.North Queensland sit fifth on the ladder with 30 points, just two behind the fourth-placed Bulldogs.Given the Cowboys (205) hold a huge differential advantage over the Bulldogs (84), a win at Belmore will put the premiers in the box seat to secure a top four position.Thurston, who played 29 games in three seasons with the Bulldogs before joining the Cowboys at the end of 2004, says he cant wait to take on his old club.Theyre back to their spiritual hhome ground there at Belmore, Thurston said.ddddddddddddPersonally, (I am) looking forward to it, but its going to be great challenge for us to see where were at both physically and mentally.Destinys in our own hands now. Its right there for us and theyll be thinking the same. Its a big game for both teams.The Cowboys beat the Warriors without Queensland State of Origin prop Matt Scott.The veteran front-rower is battling a back injury and coach Paul Green admits he left Scott out with one eye on the clash with the Bulldogs.He could have played (but) that definitely would have put him in doubt for Thursday, where we need him, Green said. ' ' '