Kritik und Lob » view of the handball incident.

JUPITER, Fla. -- Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper was ejected Wednesday after being called out at first base in a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Harper led off the fourth inning with a slow roller that second baseman Mark Ellis barehanded and flipped to first. The throw appeared to beat Harper and umpire Jeff Gosney called him out. The 21-year-old Harper kept his head down, screaming his displeasure as he passed Gosney on his way to the third-base dugout. Gosney threw out Harper, who didnt seem to initially realize hed been ejected. Nationals manager Matt Williams said he asked third base umpire C.B. Bucknor whether they could wait until the end of the inning before Harper had to leave the dugout. Williams said the crew wanted the All-Star outfielder to go immediately. "I just didnt want him to be embarrassed by him having to walk in front of everybody down the line," Williams said. The game was briefly delayed while Harper gathered his belongings and walked to the visiting clubhouse beyond the left-field wall. Fans extended their pens and papers requesting autographs as Harper passed the corner of the left-field bleachers that sit about 10 feet from the foul line. "We love the way he plays the game because he plays all out and he desperately wants to win so we love that about him," Williams said. "In a situation like that, he has to not take it too far, thats all." "The umpire told me that (Harper) said something to him," he said. "The question I had is, Did he say something? I didnt see him make a gesture to him or anything, but he said the magic word." The Nationals didnt make Harper available for comment. "I dont know what (Harper) said to him, but as he was walking off the field I said to him, That was a great at-bat, because it was," Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright said. "He fouled off a bunch of pitches," he said. "He kind of turned away and started walking off, then he looked back and said, Thanks, by the way." Yadier Molina drove in all three Cardinals runs. Trevor Rosenthal worked around a two-out triple to earn the save. STARTING TIME Nationals: Washington has yet to make a decision on its fifth starter. Tanner Roark and Taylor Jordan, the two competitors for the spot, will both pitch in the Nationals exhibition against Detroit on Sunday in Washington. Cardinals: Wainwright threw five scoreless innings of one hit ball to cap his spring. The Cardinals opening day starter allowed four runs in 22 2-3 Grapefruit League innings, striking out 18 while walking one. "Im ready for them to start counting," he said. "I feel good. Spring has flown by. Ive had a lot of fun down here and now its time to get going." TRAINERS ROOM Cardinals: Manager Mike Matheny doesnt expect injured pitchers Jaime Garcia and Jason Motte to make the trip north with the club for the Cardinals exhibition game at Triple-A Memphis on Friday. Matheny also wasnt sure whether the two pitchers will be part of St. Louis home-opener festivities. Nationals: Washington pitcher Doug Fister will start a minor league game on Thursday as he tries to build up his pitch count. He battled elbow inflammation earlier this spring but is scheduled to start the season with the major league club. AARDSMA ABOARD Newly signed reliever David Aardsma made his first appearance for St. Louis, allowing one hit and walking one in a scoreless inning of work. The Cardinals have spent much of spring searching for their final bullpen arm and the 32-year-old right-hander likely leaps to the front of a list of candidates that includes Kevin Butler, Scott McGregor and Jorge Rondon. Aardsma began the spring with Cleveland as a non-roster invitee. He is 23-15 with 69 saves and a 4.23 ERA during a seven-year major league career. EXTRA SWINGS Washington left third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and first baseman Adam LaRoche at their spring training complex so that the pair could get multiple at-bats in minor league games. Stitched Penguins Jerseys . Coach Jorge Sampaoli resisted naming any major surprises in the list published Tuesday at the site of Chiles football association. Chile is pinning its hopes on the recovery of Vidal. Pittsburgh Penguins Pro Shop . Many of those eyes are in the United States of America, a country that the sport has wanted on its side for some time. On Sunday the football Gods delivered once again, only this time it was time for good old USA to experience as much heartache as joy. https://www.cheappenguinsjersey.com/ . Coetzees finish, with six birdies and no bogeys, took him to 19-under 268 overall and past South African compatriots Thomas Aiken and Justin Walters, the overnight co-leaders. Coetzee was flawless on the East Course at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club to clinch his maiden title after 24 top 10 finishes. Pittsburgh Penguins Gear . FLIP SAUNDERS (Timberwolves): Im not the least bit surprised that he appointed himself as head coach after his search concluded. Wholesale Penguins Jerseys . Left back Layvin Kurzawa put Monaco ahead in the 36th minute with a low shot after being set up by midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia, sweeping the ball in after running onto Kondogbias cross from the left.The Copa America Centenario erupted into controversy on Sunday after a refereeing blunder sent Brazil crashing to a 1-0 defeat against Peru – and out of the tournament. The defeat left Brazil struggling to digest their worst performance in the Copa America since 1987, the last occasion the five-time world champions failed to make it past the group stage.Brazil, needing only a draw to qualify for the quarter-finals as winners of Group B, looked to be on course for a place in the last eight with 15 minutes to go against Peru. But a rare foray into Brazilian territory from Peru ended with Raul Ruidiaz bundling in Andy Polos cross from the by-line, appearing to use his arm to score.Ruidiaz wheeled away to celebrate and Uruguayan referee Andres Cunha signalled for the goal. Miranda leads Brazilian protests after the goal which knocked them out of the Copa America Brazils players protested furiously, swarming around Cunha in a bid to persuade the official to reverse his decision.The protests appeared to have swayed Cunha, who looked to be frantically checking with the fourth official via his headpiece to determine whether the goal should stand.Yet after a chaotic delay of around four minutes - with players from both sides surrounding the referee - Cunha ruled the goal should stand.Multiple replays from different angles, however, showed that Ruidiaz had used his arm to knock the ball into the net past Brazil keeper Alisson.Brazil pressed forward in the final closing minutes in an attempt to find an equaliser that would take them through but it was to no avail.Elias squandered a golden chance from close range in injury time and Brazils fate was sealed.Peru will now play Colombia in the quarter-finals after finishing top of Group B. Members of Perus naational team celebrate their victory as Brazils Miranda comforts team-mate Renato Augusto Brazil coach Dunga lambasted the decision to allow Perus goal.ddddddddddddI am sure the Brazilian fans saw the game and saw how Brazil was eliminated, Brazil coach Dunga said.There is no way to anticipate imponderables. The team was not eliminated by anything to do with football, he added, criticising the lengthy deliberations between the match officials which held up the game.I do not quite understand who or what the referee was consulting, Dunga said, adding that he had watched replays of the incident on screens in the Gillette Stadium.It was such a clear handball, but we have no influence over the referee, he said.Peru coach Ricardo Gareca said I thought we did enough to deserve to win and added he had not had a clear view of the handball incident.I havent seen it yet. Ive heard some comments. But I never think too much about mistakes by officials, he said. Brazils coach Dunga (R) is pictured after being defeated by Peru Brazils early exit is certain to pile pressure on Dunga after what was a lacklustre tournament.The Brazilians, desperate to begin the road to recovery after their humiliating 7-1 defeat by Germany in the World Cup semi-finals two years ago, never convinced at any point of the group stage.A 0-0 opening draw with Ecuador - where a refereeing decision which might have given Ecuador a victory went in Brazils favour - was followed by a 7-1 drubbing of Haiti, arguably the weakest team in the tournament.Another drab display against Peru followed on Sunday, with Dungas side barely getting a shot on goal in the first half with the exception of a shot by Gabriel in the 26th minute that was tipped away by Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.Dunga, meanwhile, emphasized that Brazils long-term rebuilding job would take time.There are no quick-fixes, he said. We will need to be patient.You can watch the Copa America live on Premier Sports. 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