Robinson attacks Angels

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The pine tar feud was still simmering yesterday.

A day after Washington Nationals manager Frank Robinson asked the umpires to check Brendan Donnelly's glove and the Los Angeles Angels' reliever was ejected for having pine tar on it, Robinson leveled some fresh accusations.

He claimed Angels pitching coach Bud Black and manager Mike Scioscia were aware that Donnelly was using pine tar.

''Donnelly knows he's breaking the rules, believe me," Robinson said last night before the Nationals defeated the Angels, 1-0, in the final game of the three-game series. ''Bud Black knows he's breaking the rules, believe me. Scioscia knows he's breaking the rules, believe me.

''But they allowed him to continue to do it. They got caught last night and they got upset about it. That's the tightrope you walk if you're going to cheat."

Told that Robinson said he and Black knew Donnelly was breaking the rules, Scioscia said, ''No."

''A pitcher who would have a little pine tar on his glove is not something that you're going to go around and randomly check. It happens with a lot of pitchers in baseball and it's just been a practice that's accepted," Scioscia said, adding that will change now.

Robinson had claimed that Donnelly also had sandpaper on the mound, but passed it off to second baseman Adam Kennedy.

''That's absolutely ridiculous," Scioscia said. ''To bring Adam into it is absolutely ridiculous."

Donnelly was ejected in the seventh inning without throwing a pitch. Although the players from both sides came onto the field after Scioscia and Robinson began arguing, no punches were thrown.

''To me, Scioscia overreacted," Robinson said. ''He stepped over the line, and that's what fueled the whole thing."

Robinson, 69, said that was the angriest he's been at someone in uniform since his playing days.

Scioscia, 46, was more conciliatory yesterday, saying he had not intended any disrespect toward Robinson.

''I only wanted to prepare Frank and the umpires that what's good for the goose is good for the gander," Scioscia said.

He asked the umpires to check Washington reliever Gary Majewski's glove in the eighth inning, and they made him re-tie loose laces on the webbing.

Donnelly's glove has been sent to the commissioner's office, which will determine any discipline.