Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda suspended 10 games for pine tar on neck

MLB home plate umpire Gerry Davis check the neck of Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda for pine tar. (AP Photo/ESPN)

Major League Baseball suspended New York Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda for 10 games for "possessing a foreign substance on his person" during Wednesday's game against the Boston Red Sox.

MLB Rule 8.02(b) states "the pitcher shall not apply a foreign substance of any kind to the ball."

Pineda admitted he used pine tar during the game and apologized for his actions.

Pineda appeared to have pine tar on his palm during an April 10 start against the Red Sox, but the team didn't complain because the substance disappeared the inning after it was brought to Red Sox manager John Farrell's attention.

During the second inning of the Red Sox 5-1 victory over the Yankees last night, Farrell again spotted something on Pineda's neck and approached home-plate umpire and crew chief Gerry Davis.

Davis checked Pineda's body and uniform before going to his neck and wiping away the pine tar. Pineda was immediately ejected from the game.

VERDUCCI: Second pine tar incident embarrassing for Michael Pineda, Yankees