Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp and Texas Rangers catcher
Robinson Chirinos were suspended for one game apiece by Major League
Baseball on Friday because of a scuffle that followed a collision at
home plate.
Joe Torre Jaguars Game Jerseys , MLB’s chief baseball officer, announced the suspensions, along with undisclosed fines.
Chirinos
was not in the Rangers’ lineup Friday night for a series opener at home
against Colorado, and the team said he was serving his suspension. Kemp
is appealing his suspension, and was in the lineup for Los Angeles’
game against San Francisco.
Kemp said he was surprised by the punishment and he appealed because he disagrees with it.
”Nothing
happened,” he said. ”Just a little pushing. I’ve seen way worse happen.
So I guess we’ll see what they decide, but I don’t agree with it.”
Kemp
was trying to score from second base on a two-out single by Enrique
Hernandez in the third inning of Wednesday night’s game at Dodger
Stadium. Chirinos caught a pinpoint throw by right fielder Nomar Mazara
and had his glove out to tag Kemp, who barreled into the catcher with
his arms up and leading with his shoulder. Chirinos’ helmet flew off as
both he and Kemp fell to the ground.
Both benches and
bullpens cleared after Chirinos and Kemp got up and shoved each other.
Kemp was restrained by Rangers starter Cole Hamels.
No punches were thrown, but Chirinos and Kemp were both ejected.
”I
think you can debate who instigated that confrontation,” Dodgers
manager Dave Roberts said. ”There wasn’t a punch thrown on (Kemp’s)
part. So I think, obviously, emotions on both sides. It’s old-school
baseball and both teams move forward.”
Rules have been put
in place to outlaw runners from plowing into catchers, and catchers
have to give runners a lane to the plate in most cases. On this play,
the throw home took Chirinos directly into Kemp’s path.
In
a series of moves before Friday’s game, the Rangers recalled catcher
Jose Trevino from nearby Double-A Frisco even though they played with
only 24 players because of the suspension.
Carlos Perez
started behind the plate in place of Chirinos, but Perez rolled his
right ankle while extending to catch a wide throw from the outfield in
the second. Perez finished the inning in the field Chiefs Game Jerseys , but Trevino made his big league debut when he batted for Perez in the bottom half and remained in the game at catcher.
Texas
placed right-handed relievers Matt Bush (right elbow strain) and Chris
Martin (right calf strain) on the 10-day disabled list. Martin felt a
twinge in his leg when running out of the bullpen Wednesday night at the
start of the scuffle.
The Rangers also recalled
right-hander Yohander Mendez from Triple-A Round Rock to start Friday
night’s game, a day after infielder Hanser Alberto was sent back to
Round Rock. Lefty reliever Brandon Mann was also recalled.
Mazara was a late scratch from the Texas lineup because of left wrist soreness.
—
AP Sports Writer Beth Harris contributed to this report from Los Angeles.
—
It was a much-needed win for the San Francisco Giants, but it came at a great cost.
Pablo
Sandoval’s tie-breaking two-run single in the 16th inning lifted the
Giants past the Miami Marlins 6-3 on Thursday, but the Giants also lost
third baseman Evan Longoria to a broken left hand after he was hit by a
pitch.
”A great win, but a tough loss,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.
Longoria
sustained a fracture to his fifth metacarpal, which could require
surgery. A decision is expected in the next couple of days.
”Obviously
the goal is to decide something as soon as possible and then get going
in the right direction, whether that’s put a cast on it and just let it
sit or have some sort of surgery and go that route,” Longoria said.
Longoria initially stayed in the game to run after he was hit in the fourth inning, but came out in between innings.
”It
wasn’t my legs,” Longoria said. ”I just hate coming out of the game
right away. I’ve always thought it looked bad. I knew right away that it
didn’t feel right, but I just figured I could run and in the meanwhile
let (Alen Hanson) get loose and come into the game.”
Longoria is hitting .246 with 10 home runs and 34 RBIs in 67 games.
”It’s
a tough loss,” Sandoval said. ”I don’t know how many days he’s going to
be out, but we’re going to miss the guy. He’s a great hitter, great
defensive player, and a great teammate. I hope he recovers well and
comes back to help us get to the postseason.”
Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run homer to continue his torrid month and Mac Williamson also homered for the Giants Rams Game Jerseys , who salvaged the final game of a four-game series and beat the Marlins for only the second time in the last 10 meetings.
”It was a great win to head home on after a tough series,” Bochy said. ”I’m looking forward to getting out of Miami, trust me.”
Giants’
starter Dereck Rodriguez pitched 6 2-3 innings, allowing two runs with
his father and former Marlins’ World Series championship catcher Pudge
Rodriguez sitting behind home plate. Ty Blach (4-5) also pitched 6 2-3
innings for the Giants without allowing a run. He gave up seven hits,
walked two, and struck out three.
”Two quality starts in one game. I’ll take it,” Rodriguez said.
Sam Dyson came on for Blach to get the final out with two runners on for his first save of the season.
McCutchen
started the 16th with a single, Brandon Crawford walked and Alen Hanson
singled to load the bases of Elieser Hernandez (0-4). Sandoval’s single
to center made it 5-3, and Gorkys Hernandez added a sacrifice fly later
in the inning. The runs were the first for the Giants since the second.
”I just tried to calm down – everyone was tired – and tried not to do too much,” Sandoval said.
Miami had two runners on in the bottom of the 16th for Bryan Holaday, who flew out to end the game.
”Epic game,” Bochy said.
It
was the longest game of the season for the Giants and the
second-longest for the Marlins, who went 17 innings in a 2-1 win over
the Chicago Cubs on March 30.
Both teams had opportunities
in extra innings after the Marlins tied the game in the bottom of the
ninth off Hunter Strickland on a sacrifice fly by Lewis Brinson. Second
baseman Joe Panik was unable to hold onto a pop up near the foul line,
allowing the lead-off runner to reach.
It was the eighth time in the series the Marlins came back to tie the game.
”It
was one of those series where you kind of play back and forth,” Marlins
manager Don Mattingly said. ”Close games. Good for a lot of
situations.”
The Giants looked to take the lead in the 11th on a double by Hanson, but Crawford was thrown out at the plate.
Miami
threatened in the 13th when Bochy ordered an intentional walk to
Starlin Castro load the bases with two outs and Hernandez due to bat
because the Marlins were out of position players. Hernandez bounced out
to Blach.
”With Castro up there Chargers Game Jerseys , that was an easy one,” Bochy said. ”I wasn’t going to let him beat us there. We were in a pretty good situation there.”
The
Marlins had another opportunity in the 15th with runners on the corners
and one out, but Justin Bour grounded into a double play. Bour slammed
his helmet to the ground in disgust.
”I saw it off the bat and I thought we might have a chance,” Blach said.
McCutchen
hit a two-run homer in the first inning for the second straight game.
Five of his eight home runs have been this month. He went 3 for 7 to
raise his batting average to .339 (19 for 56) in June, historically the
best month of his career. He has 11 multi-hit performances in his last
18 games.
Williamson’s fourth home run of the season gave the Giants a 3-0 lead against Dan Straily in the second inning.
JT Riddle’s solo shot, his third, cut the deficit to 3-1 in the fifth.
Holaday’s two-out base hit to left pulled Miami within 3-2 in the seventh, ending Rodriguez’s outing.
”It’s
really good to see everyone in this room just continues to keep working
toward every single at-bat, getting a hit, getting a hit, just no one
giving into anything, everyone scratching and clawing through every
single pitch,” Straily said.
Rodriguez scattered seven hits and struck out four in his third start.
SMITH EXPECTED TO GO ON BEREAVEMENT LIST
