Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor and Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Jose Bautista have been suspended for their parts in the melee which occurred in Sunday’s MLB game.
Odor was suspended for eight games for punching Bautista while the Blue Jays star received a one-game suspension.
Blue Jays pitcher Jesse Chavez and manager John Gibbons have been handed three-game suspensions for their roles in the ensuing altercation. The Jays bench boss was also fined US$5,000.
Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus will also miss a game
Bautista and Odor, who was also fined $5,000, are reportedly appealing their suspensions.
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Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson was fined (aggressive actions) along with outfielder Kevin Pillar (aggressive actions) and bench coach DeMarlo Hale. Hale was serving as acting manager at the time of the incident and received standard discipline for the intentional actions of Chavez while warnings were in effect, MLB said.
The bad blood between the two sides began last season AL Division Series with Bautista’s infamous bat flip and came to a head on Sunday in Texas.
In the eighth inning, Rangers 30-year-old rookie Matt Bush hit Bautista with a pitch, in a move which Gibbons said was retaliation.
Bautista then slid dangerously hard into second base in an attempt to break up a double play and when he jumped to his feet, he was clocked by Odor, causing the Jays slugger’s hat and glasses to go flying.
Gibbons was suspended because he had been ejected in the third inning for arguing balls and strikes with the umps before returning to the field in the ensuing melee.
Five Texas players were fined including pitcher Matt Bush (intentionally throw at Bautista), pitcher Sam Dyson (aggressive actions), pitcher A.J. Griffin (being on the field while on the DL), catcher Robinson Chirinos (being on the field while on the DL) and bench coach Steve Buechele (aggressive actions).
With files from Canadian Press