Houston (AP) — Major League Baseball stated on Saturday that Bryan Abreu, a pitcher for the Houston Astros, intentionally threw at Texas Rangers’ Adolis García during Game 5 of the AL Championship Series, earning him a two-game suspension and a fine.
According to MLB, Abreu’s pitch was ruled to be deliberate by all six umpires. The MLB stated the it “considered the pitch’s hazardous characteristics and its possible influence on player safety.”
Unless he files an appeal, Abreu’s suspension would begin with Sunday’s Game 6. His pitch caused a bench-clearing riot, which lasted for twelve minutes until play was resumed.
Michael Hill, executive vice president of MLB, made the announcement on the punishment. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred’s special assistant John McHale Jr. would hear an appeal.
Pitcher Matt Bush of the Texas Rangers, García, and Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. all received fines. It is forbidden for McCullers and Bush to remain on their respective team benches over the remainder of the series.
Dusty Baker, the manager of Houston, was fined for his post-ejection behavior. After spending six minutes in the Astros dugout, Baker departed for the clubhouse.
On Saturday, Baker was questioned over his reasoning behind returning to his seat in the dugout following his ejection.
He explained, “My reasoning is that it shouldn’t have happened in the first place, so I wasn’t prepared to leave.” “That was how I was thinking.”
Then, when he refused to leave the dugout, they approached him and asked him what the umpires had said.
He remarked, “Well, they didn’t say much.” They simply turned around and declared, “He’s not going anywhere.” They then pivoted and declared that they couldn’t begin until I left.
Baker was questioned concerning the event.
“It occurs,” he remarked. Furthermore, it’s not scripted. It’s an uncontrollably flammable, spontaneous reaction. Furthermore, the majority of us desire control. Most people desire to play baseball. A majority choose not to box.
Bruce Bochy, the manager of Texas, was asked if he believed that the fight will continue into Game 6.
To be honest, he said, “I don’t see really any of this happening again.”
