A federal judge said he could not...

A federal judge said he could not rule on a state court order that New York Yankee outfielder Dave Winfield pay $234,129 to a Houston woman who claims to be Winfield’s common-law wife and mother of his child.

U.S. District Judge David Hittner abstained from making a ruling, saying that Winfield’s attorneys should first have submitted their claims to the state court, according to Sandra Renfro’s attorney, Pamela George.

Winfield’s attorneys asked Hittner to bar enforcement of a July 10 ruling by State District Judge Allen Daggett that ordered Winfield to pay a judgment to Renfro by Tuesday.

Daggett ordered Winfield to pay temporary support to Renfro, pending a divorce trial. He also ordered him to pay monthly child support for his 6-year-old daughter, Lauren Shanel, plus dental bills, hospital bills and half the upkeep Ms. Renfro’s property.