The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association have worked together over the past several days to create a plan for handling potential protests by players during the national anthem, sources told ESPN.com.NBA commissioner Adam Silver and union executive director Michele Roberts on Wednesday?sent a joint letter to all players. In the document, obtained by ESPN, the two sides pledged to work together to find a way to take meaningful action in NBA cities in the wake of the unrest in the country over police shootings and related incidents.The sides are hoping to build on the series of town hall events and meetings with local police officials, such as one led by Carmelo Anthony in Los Angeles in July, to continue building bonds of trust between law enforcement, players and communities.In the letter, Silver and Roberts pledged to seek the opinions of players during training camp as they look to develop programs as the new season begins.Players have been seeking guidance from the union over the last several weeks in the wake of protests during the national anthem in the NFL. It is against NBA rules to not stand for the anthem. The league is not currently planning to change the rule, sources said. But Silver has supported players desire to make social commentary in the past.Last season several players violated league uniform rules by wearing I Cant Breathe shirts in warm-ups after the police action-related death of Eric Garner in New York, but they were not fined.Several WNBA players have kneeled during the anthem over the last several weeks, and Wednesday the entire Indiana Fever team kneeled during the anthem before a playoff game. None of the WNBA players have been fined as the league is giving them space.Silver and a group of owners who make up the labor relations committee have been regularly meeting with Roberts and her staff in recent months to work on a new collective bargaining agreement. Those talks have been productive, and there is optimism that the sides may be able to work out a new deal by December, sources said.On Thursday, Golden State Warriors general manager and president of basketball operations Bob Myers said his team would reach out to civic leaders in the Bay Area and invite them to a panel discussion or other sessions with the team to help educate the players and the organization on social issues.Myers said he has plenty to learn.My only experience with any type of negative stereotype or interaction is being white trying to go play basketball. Thats it, in my life, I will tell you, and that is no standing to understand what its like for guys to grow up not white or African-American or whatever you are, Myers said. Thats the only time in my life where I can say Im actually judged negatively where they go, This guy cant play, hes white. Thats it, and that doesnt even count. Thats stupid. 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Three came down to the fourth quarter while quarterbacks continued to shine in all four games; so important to the overall quality of the game. BALTIMORE -- With 40-year-old David Ortiz leading the way, the Boston Red Sox are putting substantial distance between themselves and their pursuers in the AL East.Ortiz broke open a tight game with a three-run homer in the seventh inning, and Boston beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 Tuesday night for its sixth straight victory.Jackie Bradley Jr. also homered for the Red Sox, who stretched their lead over third-place Baltimore to five games with 11 remaining. Toronto is in second place, four games back after a 10-2 victory at Seattle.After sweeping four games from the Yankees, Boston has won the first two of this pivotal four-game series.This was really huge, Bradley said. To get two wins right away is very vital for us. I think it will help us keep building on our momentum and finish strong.Trey Mancini homered in his major league debut for the Orioles, who are 1 1/2 games ahead of Detroit for the second AL wild card.The Red Sox are 11-3 in their last 14 games and a major league-best 13-5 in September.I think there is growing confidence in our clubhouse daily, manager John Farrell said. Weve responded to a number of challenges, whether its on the road or coming from behind to win ballgames in the division. Those are key. When you succeed in those, thats a snowball effect that takes place.To balance that out, no one is taking any of that for granted.The Red Sox led 2-1 in the seventh when Marco Hernandez and Mookie Betts singled off Kevin Gausman (8-11). One out later, Ortiz hit a 1-2 pitch far over the center-field wall.I still cant figure out how he can swing so hard on balls up and in and then cover a pitch down and away, but thats why hes the hitter he is, Orioles catcher Matt Wieters said.Ortiz guessed correctly that Gausman would throw a fastball.I had to shoot for something. Experience played out in that at-bat, the slugger said. I told myself, `Ive got to either shoot for a fastball or a splitter. But I know hes throwing his best fastball right now. So Im going to go for a fastball. And then he threw the fastball.Playing in his final season, Ortiz has 36 home runs and 121 RBI.dddddddddddd Big Papi has hit eight home runs against the Orioles this season -- including two in this series -- and 54 for his career.Betts also extended his run of success against Baltimore, going 3 for 5 and scoring twice. He is 16 for 31 at Camden Yards and has scored 16 runs in eight games.Eduardo Rodriguez (3-7) allowed two runs and four hits in 6 1/3 innings for Boston, his first win in 11 starts since July 16.Craig Kimbrel worked the ninth for his 28th save.After giving up four hits in eight scoreless innings last week at Boston, Gausman yielded five runs and 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings.Boston went up 1-0 in the third when Betts singled and scored on a grounder by Hanley Ramirez. Bradley hit his 26th homer in the fourth.Rodriguez retired his first 11 batters and held Baltimore without a hit until Mancini connected with two outs in the fifth. The rookie sprinted around the bases, taking about half the time Ortiz did during his home run trot in the seventh.UNFORGETTTABLE MOMENTThe Orioles were quick to turn the page after the defeat, but Mancini will never forget this night. He became the third Orioles player to homer in his first game, following Larry Haney in 1966 and Jonathan Schoop in 2013.It was a really special moment, something that Ive definitely been waiting for my whole life, the rookie said.TRAINERS ROOMRed Sox: Farrell gave 2B Dustin Pedroia (knee) the night off but expected him back in the lineup Wednesday.Orioles: LHP Wade Miley is expected to leave the team after Sundays game against Arizona to join his wife, who is expecting. Manager Buck Showalter said the pitcher might miss the Toronto series that begins Tuesday.UP NEXTRed Sox: Clay Buchholz (7-10, 5.20 ERA) looks to extend a three-game winning streak Wednesday night. He is 0-2 with a 6.35 ERA against Baltimore this season.Orioles: Unbeaten in four starts since Aug. 25, Ubaldo Jimenez (7-11, 5.94) is 2-5 with a 7.39 ERA lifetime against the Red Sox. ' ' '