Every game, the old chestnut goes, counts the same in the standings. And this is true. Baseball gives no additional weight to extra-inning games, blowouts or comebacks. Each is 1/162nd of an expertly divided pie.

The next two weeks' worth of games, though? They are different. Even the strictest adherents to the they-all-count-equally crowd will admit as much. That especially goes in 2019, when Major League Baseball's playoff picture consists of a few have-lots, a vast majority of have-somes and six distinct have-nots. These games, executives this week said, will serve as the impetus for those in-the-muddled-middle teams to cast their lot. As the trade deadline approaches, will they be buyers? Sellers? Maybe even opt for the high-wire act of buying while selling?

What's clear, at this point, is that almost nothing is clear. Only six teams are trending toward 90 losses, and all of them are verging on spectacularly bad. The Miami Marlins are the only team in the National League on a 90-loss pace. The handful of American League laggards range from bad to awful to please-euthanize-this-season-now: Seattle (on pace for 97 losses), Kansas City (100), Toronto (103), Detroit (110) and Baltimore (114).

You can add the New York Mets to those sellers. It seemed the San Francisco Giants were among the clear sellers, too, but they've ripped off 11 wins in 13 games to leap ahead of the Cincinnati Reds, who have been on the record as avowed buyers. The Colorado Rockies, clear buyers, have lost nine of 11, sit tied with the Giants and aren't entirely sure what the right path is.

They're far from the only ones. Do the Los Angeles Angels, winners of four straight heading into Tuesday, buy or hold? How about the Pittsburgh Pirates, who saw the NL Central as eminently winnable but lost four in a row after the All-Star break? Or the Philadelphia Phillies, 12-19 in their last 31 with two more games against the Los Angeles Dodgers on the docket and a near-double-digit deficit in the NL East? The Oakland Athletics already traded for Homer Bailey; as winners of five straight to start the second half and 18 of 23, do they double down despite being five back of the Houston Astros?

All of these questions will carry us toward ...

1. ... July 31, the one and only deadline day this year, lending it even more weight than it carried in the past. The question proffered a month ago by executives was: How does the elimination of the waiver trading period in August change things? Some assumed the change might cause a flurry of earlier deals or a deluge of trades in the days leading up to the deadline.

While the latter might still happen, the former never materialized. The evolution of the free-agent market reminded executives of a very valuable lesson: Waiting works wonders. Now, this can cut both ways, and the dynamics at play make for a fascinating final two weeks.

Because there is currently a finite amount of sellers, asking prices for the most-valued players are astronomical, according to sources. And that makes sense. If a buyer is that motivated to move now, they should pay a premium, two executives of selling teams said. The lack of impact bats, which runs the risk of finding soft markets because contenders might already have a strong player at the same position, has turned the attention to pitching. "And everybody," one of those executives said, "needs pitching."

That's a fact. What's also closer to fact is that a number of teams will have that critical moment in which they recognize that selling beats buying or standing pat. The Arizona Diamondbacks are one, the Texas Rangers another. Should that happen, the supply will get a re-up and prices will drop to fairer ranges.

Then comes the game of chicken. Can a seller really afford to hold on to a player? Can a buyer really afford to look at the clock at 4:01 p.m. ET on July 31 without having improved his team? This is the state of play. This is where championships are won, where executives earn their paychecks, where strategy is paramount.

For all the posturing, one GM on Tuesday said: "I don't think this is gonna be an active trade deadline." He figures there will be a few deals, but while he's in the market for a starting pitcher, he believes ...

2. ... Noah Syndergaard will not be traded. The price, another GM chuckled, is "a few arms and a leg." The Mets are plenty aware of what they have in Syndergaard: a pitcher with the greatest raw stuff in the game. They also are acutely aware of what they don't have: a good team.

When you don't have a good team but do have players with value, it's irresponsible not to consider dealing them. So the Mets are taking calls on Syndergaard. He's not in the category of Todd Frazier or Jason Vargas, both pending free agents who will fetch C-level prospects when they move. Perhaps he's not the biggest fish, but Syndergaard is still going to take 600-pound test line to reel in.

The San Diego Padres, who have had conversations with the Mets about Syndergaard dating to last year, recognize as much. Their desire to trim their outfield surplus is clear -- they've been shopping Hunter Renfroe and Franmil Reyes for the better part of a year now -- but that doesn't exactly line up with the Mets. San Diego also has talked with teams about Double-A pitchers Adrian Morejon and Michel Baez, both great talents with question marks. Next to the Tampa Bay Rays, San Diego might have the best farm system in baseball -- and one of the deepest. If GM A.J. Preller wants to make a splash, he can.

There is no lack of interest in Syndergaard. Every team gushes at the idea of a 6-foot-6, 240-pound right-hander whose fastball sits at 98 with a slider at 89, has two more above-average pitches and isn't a free agent until after the 2021 season. The Astros are casting a wide net on starting pitching and would love to bring Syndergaard back to Texas, where he grew up. The Milwaukee Brewers share the sentiment, but unless they're inclined to include Keston Hiura in a deal -- they aren't -- they don't have the prospect capital to get him.

The problem, one GM said, is that the Mets want good-Thor prices when he's pitching to a mid-4 ERA. "I mean, I'd do the same," the GM conceded, which is why he doesn't believe Syndergaard moves by July 31. At the same time, the Mets witnessed what can happen by waiting: Zack Wheeler, whose market was as big as that of any pitcher because he's heading into free agency this winter and wouldn't cost as much, went on the injured list Monday with shoulder fatigue. Regardless of the seriousness, the mere mention of an injured shoulder soured a number of executives on acquiring him.

At best, the price on Wheeler -- which wasn't exorbitant to begin with -- has dropped. It's what happens when the game of chicken goes wrong, when the safety net that exists with Syndergaard and ...

3. ... Trevor Bauer isn't there. The soft landing of club control protects the Mets with Syndergaard just as it does the Cleveland Indians with Bauer. Trade him now? Sure. Don't trade him now? Fine. They can do it this winter. Or again at the deadline next year.

Bauer isn't a free agent until after the 2020 season, though the fact that he has zero intention of re-signing with them unless he's paid like the mercenary he intends to be gives Cleveland incentive to move him now. There's that, a salary that could approach $20 million next season depending on how well he pitches in the second half and the return of Mike Clevinger (excellent in his last two starts) and Corey Kluber (throwing a bullpen session Wednesday) to fill out the rotation.

There's also this small matter: Executives think Bauer is the best pitcher to be had. They don't necessarily believe the Indians are going to deal him -- Bauer was very available this winter (and spring) and didn't go anywhere -- but they won't shy away from asking. Because they know Indians president Chris Antonetti and GM Mike Chernoff are trying to thread the very delicate needle of not fading as the tenures of Bauer and, sooner or later, shortstop Francisco Lindor end.

It's a robust market because even the tweener teams see themselves getting Bauer now in order to have him next year, too. That same incentive is fueling the ...

4. ... Marcus Stroman interest. While his peripheral numbers are almost identical to last season's -- a 7.16 strikeouts-per-nine rate compared to 6.77 last year, 2.77 walks per nine vs. 3.17 and 0.81 homers per nine vs. 0.79 -- his ERA is more than two full points lower. Stroman was not nearly as bad as his 5.54 ERA last season indicated -- and might not be quite as good as his 3.25 ERA this year.

So the teams interested in him must balance that with the Blue Jays' capacity to keep him. Like most of the desirable pitchers in trade talks right now, Stroman is a free agent after the 2020 season. In his case, the return needs to be significant enough to cover a year and a third of his value, plus the compensatory pick the Blue Jays would get for giving him a qualifying offer following the 2020 season. Because of their market size, the best the Blue Jays could get if Stroman were to reject the offer would be a pick somewhere in the mid- to high 70s.

In other words: He's gettable, and multiple GMs expect Stroman to be dealt before July 31. The demand for him could depend on the next two weeks, or even the next week, at which point ...

5. ... Mike Minor's status with the Rangers could be clearer. Texas is 50-45 and in third place in the AL West, 8½ games back of Houston and four behind Oakland and Cleveland, which are tied for the second wild card. The Rangers' calculus is more multilayered than that of other teams.

Texas will move into a new stadium in 2020, and the desire to field a winning team in that stadium is real. Minor is a big reason the Rangers are where they are, with a 2.73 ERA and nearly a strikeout per inning. He is plenty cheap, too, at just $9.5 million next year, whereas Stroman will make roughly $12 million in his final arbitration season.

Should the Rangers deal Minor -- rival executives believe they would for a high price -- others could go. Hunter Pence, Logan Forsythe and Asdrubal Cabrera are free-agents-to-be and fit as role players anywhere. The Rangers also have multiple years of control on Danny Santana and Jose LeClerc, who intrigue buyers.

Where Minor fits into the market with ...

6. ... Robbie Ray potentially available is an interesting question being asked by teams desiring starters. Like Texas, Arizona hasn't officially jumped into the sellers' market yet. Like the Rangers, the Diamondbacks could be a buy-and-sell team, similar to what Tampa Bay did last season when it dealt Opening Day starter Chris Archer and traded prospects for Tommy Pham. David Peralta, Greg Holland, Alex Avila, Andrew Chafin, Adam Jones and Jarrod Dyson are all Diamondbacks who could go.

The Diamondbacks have very quietly cobbled together an interesting roster. Ketel Marte is playing like a star. Re-signing Eduardo Escobar proved savvy. The Paul Goldschmidt deal could be a monster win, particularly if catcher Carson Kelly is anywhere near as good as he has looked and Luke Weaver pitches like he did before suffering an elbow injury. Compound that core with what could be a top-5 system, and Arizona's rebuild-without-tearing-down would be a model.

Dealing Ray could factor into that. Since joining Arizona's rotation full-time in 2016, Ray's 11.76 strikeouts-per-nine rate ranks third in baseball behind Max Scherzer's 11.93 and Chris Sale's 11.88. Even if Ray lacks the control and command of those two, his raw stuff makes him wildly attractive to teams that could deploy him in a starting role or even use him as a devastating October bullpen option.

Ray is far likelier to go than Zack Greinke, whose salary -- $35 million for each of the next two seasons and another $14 million or so this year -- limits his market. Even then, the Diamondbacks' desire not to bottom out makes trading Greinke, their best pitcher, that much more difficult. The Giants should feel no such compunction when it comes to ...

7. ... Madison Bumgarner, a player who has meant even more to their organization than Greinke to his. San Francisco's recent success isn't throwing a wrench in the team's trade-Bumgarner-and-all-the-relievers plan. Even with its best run of the year, the Giants are three games below .500 and have the third-worst run differential in the NL. They are selling. One more time, a bit slower. They. Are. Selling. Which is a difficult thing to pitch to a fan base and clubhouse of players who are enjoying this winning stuff.

It's just the truth. The only question, really, is where he's going to end up. Minnesota, which has been in on practically every available starter, is an option. Milwaukee, which is stuck around .500 with a negative run differential, needs an upgrade. The Astros could do wonders for Bumgarner, as he could for them. Even the Phillies, who still hold the second wild-card spot in the NL despite their wretched run, are an option.

The Giants tried to jump the deadline on a Bumgarner deal a month ago. When nothing substantive came of that, they resolved to wait -- and interested teams believe that waiting will continue until close to July 31. Everyone knows what Bumgarner is. The actual prices they're willing to pay won't reveal themselves until the clock starts ticking louder. And when they do, we'll be able to see whether ...

8. ... Will Smith or Bumgarner garner the greater return. This has been a point of debate among executives, who recognize Bumgarner's pedigree, credentials and especially his postseason bona fides. They also know that 2019 is a bullpen game and October a bullpen month. If Smith isn't the crème de la crème among relievers, he's certainly in the coffee mug.

The relief market will be the most active of any, executives believe, simply because bullpens are so mediocre and relief usage is paramount in the postseason. Smith, who provides more usefulness as a left-hander, is one of many relievers who could be on the move. San Diego is listening on closer Kirby Yates. Detroit is trying to parlay a career year from closer Shane Greene into a big return and listening on Joe Jimenez and his big strikeout rate, too.

Toronto is inclined to move Ken Giles -- and should do the same with Daniel Hudson, who has a 1.91 ERA since the season's first week. The Jays have another trade option on their roster: Aaron Sanchez, the longtime starter, whose stuff, multiple teams believe, would play exceptionally well in a relief role.

The Royals should find a solid market for left-hander Jake Diekman and will pay down Ian Kennedy's salary to move him after his resurgence in the bullpen. Ditto for the Rockies and Jake McGee and Bryan Shaw, if they decide to sell. The Chicago White Sox have a pair of solid, controllable relievers in Alex Colome (free agent after 2020) and Aaron Bummer (2024). There are so many more. Raisel Iglesias, should Cincinnati sell. Seth Lugo could be another Met to move, as could Edwin Diaz if GM Brodie Van Wagenen is really willing to rejigger the roster.

That one sits firmly on the "quite unlikely" list, though even a week ago the prospect of ...

9. ... Felipe Vazquez leaving the Pirates wasn't all that great. It still might not be, even as the Pirates stumble through July. As Buster Olney wrote, there are good and bad reasons for the Pirates to deal Vazquez.

The good, of course, is the enormous return they'd receive for him. Vazquez has been exceptionally consistent as the Pirates' closer the past three seasons, sits 98 mph with his fastball, has a legitimate four-pitch mix, is death on right-handed hitters (and historically the same on lefties) and agreed to one of the most team-friendly contracts in baseball last year. He'll make only $5.25 million next year, $7.25 million in 2021 and has a pair of club options at $10 million apiece that can be exercised one at a time.

The Pirates could look at the NL Central landscape, see the Cubs' window closing, the Brewers and Cardinals stagnating and the Reds still with holes, and reasonably believe they could contend for division titles over the course of that deal. They also could say that while acknowledging that a one-inning relief pitcher who provides massive return is baseball's version of a gift horse. Thing is, the specter of ...

10. ... July 31 does weird things to teams. Delusions of grandeur intersect with agonies of defeat. Arbitrage opportunities abound. Talks live. They die. They're resuscitated. They die again. They get mouth-to-mouth -- or text-to-text -- and die one more time.

It's frustrating but also edifying and intriguing. Unlike the dopamine rush of the NBA, in which the stars leverage their destinations and essentially hand-pick their teams, baseball is a never-ending puzzle in which one seemingly insignificant late-July trade can make the difference between championship and heartbreak.

Maybe Nicholas Castellanos, whose market hasn't hit a rolling boil yet, steps up with the go-ahead run on base in Game 7 of the World Series. Perhaps another team pays the exorbitant asking price for his Detroit teammate, Matthew Boyd, who's on the mound. If Cleveland sells Bauer, it could follow the Vazquez corollary and do the same with closer Brad Hand, who combines excellence with a team-friendly deal.

Just when one GM thinks it's going to be a quiet deadline, the baseball world can go from zero to irrational in under three seconds, because that's how July 31 works -- especially with no deals to be consummated after it. This time of year, you're only as good as your last week. Those vital weeks are upon baseball, ready to render judgment and dictate what sort of trade deadline 2019 will offer.

Commonwealth 800m silver medallist fined and ordered to undertake athletics community service following incident at BMC meeting

Britain’s Kyle Langford has been handed a £1000 fine and must do a day of community service at a junior athletics meet following a physical altercation with an official at the BMC meeting at his local track in Watford last month.

The Commonwealth 800m silver medallist is said to have issued “immediate apologies” to the official concerned and has escaped suspension following the incident, which came after Langford received a red card for warming up on the track while another race was taking place.

After apologising, Langford – who finished fourth in the 800m at the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London – was allowed to run the race and finished fifth in 1:46.76.

In a statement published on Wednesday, UK Athletics said: “Following an incident at the BMC GP Watford on 29 June, a UKA disciplinary investigation has fully reviewed the matters and considered witness accounts of the event including the parties directly involved.

“As a WCP (World Class Programme) funded athlete, Mr Langford is bound by the terms of the WCP agreement which sets the standards in relation to conduct. The actions – which the athlete has readily admitted – fell well below the standard expected. The investigation took into account the immediate apologies issued to the official concerned thereafter.

“The following sanctions will apply: A formal (and final warning) reprimand will be entered upon his record; a disciplinary sanction entry on the UKA website.

“It has also been determined that the following sanctions should also apply to the athlete: £1000 fine, to be donated to charity; one day of athletics community service – to be served assisting officials at an athletics event with junior athletes.”

Yesterday I let myself and my support team down by reacting angrily to an official at the BMC event.
I allowed pre-race tension to get to me too much and my behaviour fell well short of what it should be. pic.twitter.com/0jpA1iSX91

— Kyle langford (@KyleLangford_96) June 30, 2019

In a statement posted on Twitter the day after the incident, Langford said: “Yesterday I let myself and my support team down by reacting angrily to an official at the BMC event. I allowed pre-race tension to get to me too much and my behaviour fell well short of what it should be.

“I have apologised to the official involved and have also followed up in writing, but I know that this wasn’t acceptable and I apologise that I behaved in that way.

“The officials in the UK are amongst the best in the world, and their work at events like the BMC have meant athletes like me have had chance to compete in some brilliant races. Once again, I’m very sorry and will be sure never to repeat this behaviour.”

Prop Gareth Milasinovich will miss much of his debut season with Ulster after suffering a knee ligament injury.

The Irish-qualified forward, 26, must undergo surgery to repair the ACL tear he suffered in pre-season training.

Ulster say the injury will keep the former Worcester Warriors player out of action for approximately nine months.

Milasinovich, who can play on both sides of the scrum, was expected to provide cover for first-choice tight-head Marty Moore this season.

The South Africa-born prop qualifies for Ireland through his grandfather Norman McFarland, a former Ulster hooker.

Milasinovich was one of six new recruits for Ulster during the summer along with Ireland prop Jack McGrath from Leinster, locks Sam Carter and David O'Connor, utility back Matt Faddes from the Highlanders and Munster fly-half Bill Johnston.

The son of Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke admitted that the club are not in the position to compete for trophies this season amid growing unrest among the team's supporters worldwide, but added that silverware is still ultimately the goal in the very near future.

Kroenke, and the Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE) that owns Arsenal, was criticised by Arsenal supporters' groups on Monday in a two-page letter that labelled the American billionaire "passive" and "absent" and using the club as an "investment vehicle."

In response, Josh Kroenke -- the vice-chairman of KSE and son of owner Stan -- said that the club is no longer able to compete for top trophies right now but are working their way back, while adding that he felt the disappointment of the fans and the team.

"As much as we would love to say that we'll be competing for the top trophies tomorrow, we know that that's not the case and that we have to get to work on that," Kroenke said in an interview on the club's website. He prefaced that comment by saying Arsenal's goal is still to win silverware.

Kroenke said he is confident in the "significant changes" in the last 18 months -- like the addition of a first-ever technical director in former midfielder Edu -- to lay the foundations to allow the club to achieve their goal of eventually winning silverware again.

"From our coaching staff to our management, there have been significant changes that have gone on and I'm really excited to let those foundations continue to grow and take shape to build a successful future for Arsenal.

"[We've appointed] Per Mertesacker, and most recently we appointed Edu -- so we have a technical director for the first time in the history of Arsenal. We have a man who has Arsenal DNA. We have an Invincible."

Arsenal finished fifth in the Premier League last season, one point behind North London rivals Spurs who came in fourth, in head coach Unai Emery's first season in charge after taking over from longtime boss Arsene Wenger. The Gunners will compete in the Europa League again this season, having lost in the final of last year's competition to Chelsea in Baku.

Kroenke told fans to be excited about upcoming signings this summer, saying: "There are a few things that I know our group are working on, and a few things we hopefully have on the doorstep."

Arsenal's only signing this summer is Brazilian teenager Gabriel Martinelli, while Aaron Ramsey left for Juventus and captain Laurent Koscielny is on strike.

Stan Kroenke first invested in Arsenal in 2007 and went on to become majority shareholder in 2011.

Arsenal have not won the Premier League since 2004, with their last trophy being the FA Cup in 2017. The 2019-20 season will be their third in a row without Champions League football.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Albert Pujols hit a bases-clearing double during the Angels' six-run first inning, and Los Angeles remained unbeaten in five games since the All-Star break with a 7-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.

Jake Marisnick was drilled between the shoulder blades by Angels reliever Noe Ramirez (4-1) in the sixth inning, and both teams nearly came to blows moments later. Marisnick ran over Angels catcher Jonathan Lucroy in a collision at the plate in Houston nine days ago, leaving Lucroy with a concussion and a broken nose.

Shortly after Ramirez hit Marisnick with a 1-1 pitch, a verbal confrontation broke out between Pujols and several Astros in the dugout, including Lance McCullers Jr. and Justin Verlander. Both benches and bullpens partially emptied, but there was no serious physical contact -- and Marisnick noticeably tried to calm his teammates.

After the game, Astros manager AJ Hinch railed against the Angels getting a "free shot" at Marisnick.

"Our guy got suspended for an unintentional act and they got a free shot," Hinch said. "I feel bad for players nowadays. There's a lot of gray area in what to do. Sometimes you can run over catchers. Sometimes you can't. ... Sometimes you can retaliate, like tonight, they're going to get away with it, unless he gets suspended."

Hinch pointed out that Ramirez did not receive a warning, nor was he ejected.

"We'll see if there's discipline," Hinch continued. "And without discipline there's not going to be any issue doing it the next time. So if retaliations are in, cool. We're well aware."

Mike Trout missed his second straight game because of a mildly strained right calf, but Shohei Ohtani and Luis Rengifo also drove in first-inning runs in Los Angeles' eighth victory in 11 games since the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs.

Tyler White had three hits and an RBI in the Astros' fourth loss in six games. Their division lead over Oakland is down to 4 1/2 games, matching their smallest advantage since May 9.

With another impressive victory while mourning Skaggs' death, the Angels (50-46) moved four games above .500 for the first time since June 2018, albeit while still in fourth place in the AL West. Los Angeles has scored 54 runs in its past six games.

The Angels' first six batters reached base against Astros opener Hector Rondon (3-2), who gave up six runs, five hits and a walk against only nine batters while failing to get out of the first.

Ohtani, who drove in the first run with an infield single, went 2-for-4 and stole a base on his bobblehead night.

After getting three hits and three RBIs in the Angels' 9-6 win Monday, Pujols came through with another big offensive moment in Trout's absence. He drove in three runs with a perfectly placed double just inside the right-field line, and Rengifo chased Rondon with an RBI triple.

Andrew Heaney pitched eight-hit ball into the fifth inning and got five strikeouts in his second start since the death of Skaggs, his best friend.

MARKED MARISNICK

Marisnick, a native of nearby Riverside, had two hits while being booed heavily during pregame introductions and onward by angry Angels fans. Marisnick didn't play in the series opener Monday. He is currently appealing his two-game suspension for the collision.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Astros: Rogelio Armenteros came up from Triple-A Round Rock before the game and threw four innings of two-hit ball as Houston attempts to patch together the final two spots in a rotation damaged by injuries and inconsistency.

Angels: Trout hopes to return Wednesday but accepts the importance of caution. Brian Goodwin came off the injured list after missing nine games because of a bruised wrist and went 2-for-4 while replacing Trout in center.

UP NEXT

Gerrit Cole (9-5, 3.23 ERA), a Newport Beach native who graduated from nearby Orange Lutheran High School and attended UCLA, takes the mound for Houston against an opener and Felix Pena (7-2, 4.32 ERA), who threw the final seven innings of the Angels' combined no-hitter last week.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

India A 295 for 6 (Pandey 100, Gill 77, Cornwall 2-37) beat West Indies A 147 (Paul 34, Krunal 5-25) by 148 runs

Three days before the selectors meet to pick India's senior squad for the Caribbean tour, Manish Pandey, the A team captain, made a statement with an 86-ball century that fashioned a 148-run victory. Opener Shubman Gill also staked his claim for higher honours with his second successive half-century in the West Indies to follow up an unbeaten 109 against Sri Lanka A at home last month. After the two batsmen carried India A to 295 for 6, Krunal Pandya wrecked West Indies A's chase with 5 for 25 in seven overs. The 148-run win meant India wrapped up the five one-day series with two games remaining.

ALSO READ: India's selectors to meet on July 19

After opting to bat, India A lost Anmolpreet Singh for a duck in the third over, but Gill and No.3 Shreyas Iyer forged a 109-run stand to give the innings direction. Iyer, who made a brisk 77 in the tour opener, was more sedate on Tuesday, scoring 47 off 69 balls. The stand ended when Iyer was dismissed by offspin-bowling allrounder Rahkeem Cornwall in the 27th over. Pandey and Gill then took charge of the innings, putting on a 110-run stand to take the team towards 250.

While Gill fell 23 short of a hundred, Pandey reached the landmark off 86 balls, in the last over of the innings. Seamer Romario Shepherd then pinned him lbw with an inswinging yorker off his next ball to keep the visitors to under 300.

With West Indies selector Robert Haynes in attendance, John Campbell and Sunil Ambris have the A team a positive start by adding 51 for the first wicket. Ambris was the more aggressive opener, making 30 off 32 balls before he was trapped lbw by Avesh Khan. However, fingerspinners Krunal, Washington Sundar, and Hanuma Vihari tore up the middle and lower order as West Indies A went from 51 for 0 to 117 for 9.

With No.11 Akeem Jordan for company, Keemo Paul launched some big blows and top-scored with 34 off 16 balls, dragging his side to 147. It was Vihari who sealed the victory when he had Paul holing out in the 35th over. Ambris and Paul were the only West Indies A batsmen to pass 25 in the chase.

PHILADELPHIA -- Bryce Harper threw his helmet off rounding the bases, thrust his arms in the air and screamed while teammates stormed out of the dugout to mob him.

That's what Philadelphia has been waiting for from its $330 million man.

Harper hit a two-run double off Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen with one out in the bottom of the ninth after pinch-hitter Matt Beaty hit a three-run homer off Phillies closer Hector Neris in the top half, rallying Philadelphia to a 9-8 win over Los Angeles on Tuesday night.

"That's what baseball is all about,'' Harper said. "Against one of the best closers, it's always fun.''

Pinch-hitter Andrew Knapp hit a double with one out after Adam Haseley's grounder hit off Jansen's right foot near the ankle and rolled to first base. Cesar Hernandez followed with a single and Scott Kingery's bloop single to center scored Knapp to get the Phillies within a run. Harper then ripped a ball to the gap that bounced off A.J. Pollock's glove and went to the wall to win it.

"That was a huge moment for Bryce,'' Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said. "You could see how important that was for him.''

The Phillies rebounded from a 16-2 loss in the opener of a four-game series against the two-time defending NL champions.

Cody Bellinger hit his major league-leading 34th homer and Max Muncy, A.J. Pollock and Joc Pederson also went deep for the Dodgers.

Harper hit a three-run homer and had five RBIs for the first time since April 19, 2017, at Atlanta. Brad Miller and Kingery also connected for the Phillies.

Ranger Suarez (1-0) got two outs for the win.

Neris was ejected after hitting pinch-hitter David Freese in the back with the next pitch after Beaty homered, and Kapler also was tossed.

Jansen (3-3) has four blown saves in 24 tries. He was limping in the clubhouse after the game.

"I should've come out of the game,'' Jansen said.

Kingery drove his 13th homer out to left to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead in the first. Muncy crushed his 25th homer on an 0-2 pitch in the second to tie it at 1.

After J.T. Realmuto reached on a throwing error on third baseman Justin Turner to start the Philadelphia's second, Miller hit a two-run shot.

Harper then blasted his 17th homer to deep center with two outs to make it 5-1.

Bellinger lined a two-run shot in the fourth and Pollock connected one batter later to cut it to 6-4. Pederson launched his 21st homer in the fifth.

STAT STORY

The Dodgers lost despite five players hitting homers for the second time in franchise history, according to STATS. The other time was May 14, 1961, against the Cubs.

STARTING TIME

Dodgers: Walker Buehler gave up six runs -- two earned -- and four hits in six innings.

Phillies: Vince Velasquez gave up five runs -- four earned -- and five hits, striking out seven in 4 2/3 innings.

BENCHED

Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco wasn't in the starting lineup because he didn't run hard down the line on a grounder to third bases with two outs and the bases loaded during Monday night's 16-2 loss. The throw was wide but Franco was still out.

Kapler wouldn't call it a "benching'' and added Franco said he didn't run hard because of a groin injury, but his explanation made it clear it was disciplinary. Kapler hasn't sat a player for lack of hustle until now and has heard plenty of criticism from media and fans for not doing it.

"Taking a player out of the lineup in a punitive way is not my natural way of handling these type of situations,'' Kapler said. "In this particular situation, I thought it was critical to address in part because right after some of the other incidents that we've had.''

Franco grounded out as a pinch-hitter in the sixth.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Phillies: LF Jay Bruce left in the third inning with a right oblique strain. ... SS Jean Segura didn't start because of a heel contusion. ... RHP Edubray Ramos was placed on the 10-day injury list with a right shoulder impingement and LHP Austin Davis recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. ... RHP Juan Nicasio was activated from the 10-day injured list and RHP Yacksel Rios was optioned to Triple-A.

UP NEXT

RHP Kenta Maeda (7-6, 3.82 ERA) starts for the Dodgers and RHP Nick Pivetta (4-4, 5.81 ERA) goes for the Phillies on Wednesday night.

Billy Vunipola says he is determined not to disrupt England's World Cup preparations and regrets the impact on his Saracens team-mates after defending Israel Folau's anti-gay comments.

In April, Vunipola, 26, was warned by the Rugby Football Union for his support of Australian Folau's post which said "hell awaits" gay people.

But Vunipola - also a devout Christian - added "everyone knows where I stand".

"The regret I would have is bringing my team-mates into disrepute," he said.

"That was something I didn't really think about, which was probably a bit selfish from my point of view," the Saracens number eight added to BBC Sport.

"That is something I don't want to happen here [with England]. I don't want them to be affected by one person's opinion."

After liking Folau's post, Vunipola added on Instagram: "There just comes a point when you insult what I grew up believing in that you just say enough is enough.... He's [Folau] saying how we live our lives needs to be closer to how God intended them to be. Man was made for woman to procreate, that was the goal no?"

Folau's contract was terminated by Rugby Australia in May after he was found guilty of a "high level breach" of RA's player code of conduct.

Vunipola said: "We dealt with it as a group at Sarries and put it out in the open. I addressed the group myself.

"Everyone knows where I stood - or where I stand - but the point we had coming out of [the meeting] was that it is unfair to bring everyone else into it.

"Whatever I say will be scrutinised and will affect the team so, for me, it is better to say nothing about it.

"If I was a boxer I would happily sit here and talk to you about how I feel, how I think, how I stand. But it would be very unfair for me to do that right now, as it wouldn't be fair [on the rest of the England squad]."

Joe Marler and James Haskell were among current and former team-mates to voice their opposition to Vunipola's views, but the number eight is confident there will be no divisions in camp.

While Haskell has retired, Marler is among the 40 players currently training in Bristol before the tournament in Japan, which starts in September.

"Hask came to my wedding," Vunipola added. "All these things are there to be talked about.

"Marler and I have yet to talk about it but we are going to sit down. We are going to talk and see where it gets us."

Vunipola was booed by supporters during the latter stages of Saracens' victorious Champions Cup campaign last season, and accepts he could receive similar treatment in the future.

"I brought this on myself and I am not going to hide away from the fact I did," he said.

"But it is something that also means a lot to me and I know it means a lot to other people."

CORONA, Calif. – Lucas Oil Products Inc. has named Matt Conrad as the new general manager of Lucas Oil.

In an announcement made by founder, CEO and President Forrest Lucas, Conrad will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Lucas Oil Production Facilities in Corona, Calif., and Corydon, Ind.

“As our company has grown and matured, so has our staff. Looking to the future we believe it is time we promoted someone to the position of General Manager,” stated Lucas. “Matt Conrad has been the obvious choice for a long time. Matt is very unselfish and is always looking out for the company and staff. We are pleased to name him General Manager of Lucas Oil.”

An Indiana native, Conrad brings 15 years worth of Lucas Oil knowledge and experience into his new role, having joined the company in 2004 as a production line worker. Throughout his tenure at Lucas Oil, Conrad has worked within an array of additional departments, such as truck dispatch, shipping, human resources, payroll, I.T., new production line design and startup, and inventory management. He also served as a plant manager and was the General Manager of Lucas Oil Golf Course in English, Indiana.

“I am very excited about this new opportunity to help Lucas Oil move forward into the future and to take over more of the marketplace. I love being part of a great team that appreciates the company they work for and their team members,” explained Conrad. “One of my main goals will be to ensure we continue producing and shipping the best products as efficiently as possible, while also making our customers happy. I look forward to working closer with everyone in order to achieve these goals. Together we can accomplish more. Whenever everyone works together, ‘It Works!’”