Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Kyle Crick had surgery on his right index finger Tuesday, the result of an altercation he had with teammate Felipe Vazquez in the clubhouse before Monday's game against the San Francisco Giants.

The Pirates said the right-handed Crick had "extensor tendon repair surgery" on Tuesday in San Francisco. He is expected to be healthy by spring training.

"The behavior exhibited by these two players last night is unacceptable, inconsistent with the standards expected of a Major League player and will not be tolerated by the organization," general manager Neal Huntington said in a statement.

Both players were fined an undisclosed amount.

Crick has a 4.96 ERA in 52 appearances this season. He last pitched Sunday.

Vazquez was not in the Pirates lineup Tuesday night against the Giants.

BALTIMORE -- The Los Angeles Dodgers are dancing. Again.

Los Angeles beat the Baltimore Orioles 7-3 on Tuesday night at Camden Yards to clinch their seventh straight National League West pennant.

In the divisional era (since 1969), only the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees have strung together more consecutive crowns. The Braves won 14 straight NL East titles, from 1991 to 2005 (there was no postseason in the strike-shortened 1994 campaign). The Yankees were AL East champs nine years running, from 1998 through 2006.

Besides building on their impressive streak of pennants on Tuesday, the Dodgers also became the first MLB team to secure a spot in the 2019 postseason.

Unlike last year, when they beat the Colorado Rockies in a Game 163 tiebreaker to earn a sixth straight division title, the Dodgers got it done early this time around. By nabbing the crown in their 146th contest of the season, they tied the 2016 Chicago Cubs for the fourth-fastest clincher this century. The three teams ahead Los Angeles -- the 2002 Braves, the 2017 Nationals and the 2008 Angels -- all failed to advance in the playoffs, though the '16 Cubs went on to win the World Series. Despite that recent history, manager Dave Roberts is a fan of front-loading.

"I would rather the early one versus the late one," said Roberts, who has guided Los Angeles in each of the past four seasons, prior to Tuesday's win. "We did the late one last year, and 163 was aggressive. I like this one, just so you can really get it past you, get guys rest, put guys into rolls and positions you might face in the postseason."

Prior to this year, the earliest clinch during the Dodgers' current string came in 2013, when they claimed the division in their 153rd game. From a calendar perspective, L.A.'s clincher is tied for the sixth soonest in the wild-card era, according to Elias Sports Bureau research. The 2008 Angels and 2017 Nationals also clinched on Sept. 10. The 1998 Yankees, who did it on Aug. 30, were the earliest.

As little suspense as there has been in the NL West this year, there was just as little on Tuesday night at Camden Yards. The visiting Dodgers jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs in the top of the first, three of which came courtesy of shortstop Corey Seager's 15th home run of the season. Seager also hit a two-run blast in the third, while highly touted rookie Gavin Lux launched a towering solo shot in the fifth, the first round-tripper of his career.

Right-hander Walker Buehler picked up the win, pitching seven scoreless frames to improve to 13-3 on the season. He walked none and fanned 11, in the process reaching 200 strikeouts for the first time in his career. With the division already decided, Los Angeles will now turn its attention toward gaining home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

"It's certainly very important considering how we've played at home," said Roberts, whose club has a .737 home winning percentage (56-20) that ranks second in the majors behind the Houston Astros. "But there's still a cost with everything, and I think the main thing is keeping guys healthy, keeping guys sharp, and not trying to redline just to win by any means necessary. If we play to our potential and play the way we're capable of, that should take care of itself."

With the victory over Baltimore, the Dodgers moved to 94-52. They began the day with a three-game lead over Atlanta for the best record in the National League, and were two games behind the Yankees and Astros for baseball's best mark. They were 17.5 games ahead of the second-place Arizona Diamondbacks, and have held at least a share of first for all but six days this year.

World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series title contender Brad Sweet visits The Ralph Sheheen Show presented by Lucas Oil this week to talk about his successful sprint car career, which over the past couple of years has included wins in the Kings Royal and Knoxville Nationals.

There’s one item still left on the checklist – a series championship. Ralph talks to Brad about all of that, plus Brad shares his thoughts on his time as a NASCAR driver.

Catch this week’s full episode on SPEEDSPORT.com or download the podcast on SoundCloud, iTunes, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, or Spotify.

The future of Sion Mills Cricket Club, the scene of Ireland's famous win over West Indies in 1969, is in doubt following an arson attack.

Equipment was destroyed in the blaze and graffiti written onto buildings at the ground.

"Our ride-on lawnmowers, our strimmers and things like that have been destroyed. It's groundskeeping equipment and it's expensive stuff," Simon Galloway, the club captain and secretary, told News Letter. "We don't have the money to replace it. It could be a final nail in the coffin for Sion Mills Cricket Club after 155 years.

"This building was our equipment store. What they've done is brought a ladder from somewhere, who knows where, and they've gone in through a hole in the roof. They painted this - HRY - on the roof first of all. Whatever that means, I don't know. And then they've set fire to the shed."

A GoFundMe page has been set up with the target of raising £5000. Police are investigating the incident which follows recent fires at the next door derelict Herdman's Mill site.

Earlier this year marked the 50th anniversary of when Ireland beat West Indies by bowling them out for 25 in their first innings. Douglas Goodwin claimed 5 for 26 in an innings where the top score was 6 by Clyde Walcott.

MIAMI -- Milwaukee Brewers star Christian Yelich has been forced to leave the game at Miami after fouling a ball off his right knee.

Yelich limped off the field in the first inning Tuesday night. There was no immediate report on the extent of his injury.

Yelich remained on the ground for several minutes before getting up.

The outfielder was the NL MVP last year. Yelich began the day batting .330 with 44 home runs and 97 RBIs for the playoff-contending Brewers, and led the majors in slugging percentage and OPS.

Trent Grisham continued Yelich's at-bat and struck out. Grisham stayed in the game in right field.

The Brewers entered the night two games behind the Chicago Cubs in the race for the second wild card.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Saracens' decision to pay their women's team this season is "really exciting", says their England back Sarah McKenna.

Sarries will pay their female players for the first time in a move McKenna says shows their "one-club mentality".

But players from other clubs expressed concern that the move could result in "too much difference" between English top-flight teams.

"A club with more money can get all of the best players," said Darlington Mowden Park winger Mackenzie Thomas.

Saracens show their intent

Saracens have beaten Harlequins in both finals since the English top flight was revamped in 2017.

Less than a year after the Rugby Football Union reintroduced full-time contracts for 28 players, Saracens will now issue retainers and pay match fees.

Worcester are the only other top-flight team that will pay match fees next season.

"It's really exciting for the players, coaches and the supporters alike that the club have become aligned in the men's and women's sections," McKenna told BBC Sport.

"It's Saracens as a whole with a one-club mentality now, and in terms of professionalism and the way the game has gone, there has been a change in the mindset."

Richmond flanker Hannah Field believes the move has to be "sustainable".

"If you bring players in because of the money, are you creating a team that want to play for each other or are you creating a team that want to get paid?" she said.

"At Richmond, we are adamant we can be the team that we want to be without paying players. New Zealand's men play for one another, which is more important than playing for money.

"I think if it is managed well enough, and if we can learn from the mistakes the men made when they went professional then it can be a good thing - but it is a slow process and it has to be sustainable."

'You don't want too much difference between sides'

With no promotion to the Premier 15s, or relegation from it, the same 10 clubs have featured in the league since its formation in 2017.

But with Exeter among the clubs bidding to create franchises, teams that finish in the bottom four could be in danger of losing their place in the top division.

Darlington's Thomas said women being paid to play club rugby is "amazing for women's sport", but warned "right now, it may not be sustainable for every club to do that".

"It is expensive and for the league itself you don't want too much difference between sides," she added.

Firwood Waterloo hooker Rachel Thomas agrees, saying there must be "level ground" if clubs want to retain players.

"Whether it is match fees, accommodation or help with university places, there has to be a level ground," she said.

"Especially when you see local girls coming through from the centre of excellence who are outstanding, but they are 17 or 18 and ready to go to university, so instead of staying in the area with us, they are looking at other universities where there are big clubs around who can support them."

'We want this league to be here in 20 years'

Nicky Ponsford, head of women's performance at the RFU, responded "clubs know that the infrastructure has got to be right".

"Our main aim is to ensure Tyrrells Premier 15s is sustainable," she said.

"We've got to make sure commercial revenues are driven up first before we fully professionalise.

"We want this league to be here in 20 years' time."

The Premier 15s season begins the weekend of 21-22 September, with Saracens beginning their title defence at Bristol Bears.

Former Wales captain Sam Warburton has called on World Rugby to standardise the way concussion is treated.

Warburton praised Wales and England's treatment of players after suffering blows to the head in matches.

But the two-time British and Irish Lions captain claimed the same standards are not met in France.

"France don't treat concussion seriously and they've had deaths in the last 12 months," he told the Scrum V podcast.

Warburton said Wales' decision to remove fly-half Rhys Patchell early in their 19-10 defeat by Ireland on 7 September was praiseworthy.

But Warburton, who retired in July 2018 aged 29 after repeated injury problems, added: "I'm not sure if that happens in France.

"And what I've heard from players and coaches, they don't take concussion seriously so that's where I think World Rugby do need to get into a lot of the Unions.

"I've been dealt with at Twickenham where I've been knocked out; the RFU [Rugby Football Union] dealt with me brilliantly.

"Wales I think do it brilliantly so I can say firsthand that those two have things in order - I think all the Home Nations have - but I'm not sure every other country has."

Patchell failed a head injury assessment (HIA) after a heavy collision with Ireland back row CJ Stander. The stand-off is being monitored and is expected to fly with Wales to Japan on Wednesday to take part in the Rugby World Cup.

The player suffered two concussions during the 2018-19 season playing for Scarlets.

Wales coach Warren Gatland says Wales' medical staff will be consulted over Patchell's previous head injuries and they will "see how he fares over the next couple of days".

Second-impact syndrome

Warburton said it was important players do not go back onto the field after failing HIA tests.

"There's something called second-impact syndrome, which is when if you get concussed and you go back on and get another concussion your chances of a fatality increase massively," added Warburton.

He said Wales' move in keeping Patchell off was "because he's had a concussion - it's not with the World Cup in sight, it's for the player's safety".

Four players - two amateurs and two professional - died in separate incidents in France between May 2018 and January 2019

However, not all of those were concussion related, with Nicolas Chauvin suffering a broken neck and another - Louis Fajfrowski - collapsing and dying after being struck in the chest.

An investigation ruled his death was caused by commotio cordis. His heart stopped because he was hit in the chest at a vulnerable moment in the cardiac cycle.

Two amateur players, Nathan Soyeux, 23, and Adrien Descrulhes, 17, died after taking blows to the head.

The French Rugby Federation (FFR) has formed a global forum alongside World Rugby and has proposed a change to rugby's tackle laws forcing players to tackle opponents below the chest.

The FFR has been asked to comment.

STATESVILLE, N.C. — GMS Racing announced Tuesday that CMR Construction & Roofing will sponsor additional races with Brett Moffitt in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series.

CMR will sponsor Moffitt in four of the five remaining NGOTS races this season, including Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway on Sept. 13, Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on Oct. 12, Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on Oct. 26 and the season finale at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway on Nov. 15.

CMR also has options for additional races with GMS Racing in 2020.

Moffitt drove the No. 24 CMR Construction & Roofing Silverado to victory lane at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park last month, during the brand’s first appearance with GMS Racing.

“CMR is excited to extend our sponsorship of Brett Moffitt,” said company CEO Steve Soule. “Brett impressed us all with an incredible win in Canada on our first sponsorship with him. CMR customers are huge NASCAR fans, and they have been following along on Facebook and Instagram, joining us as we cheer Brett on. This is a fun opportunity to share with our community, especially when we get to celebrate together.

“We look forward to watching Brett bring home many more victories in the CMR colors.”

Moffitt is the defending Truck Series champion and is currently leading the playoff point standings by virtue of his two wins in the Round of 8.

He is locked into the Round of 6, which begins at Talladega next month.

“I’m pumped to have CMR on board with us for more races,” said Moffitt. “We won in Canada for their first race with us, and hopefully we’ll have more trips to victory lane with them this season.

“Not many sponsors get a win in their first race with a new team, so that was pretty cool.”