Houston Astros pitcher Bryan Abreu is suspended for two games by MLB for intentionally pitching at Adolis Garcia – after incident sparked benches-clearing brawl in Game 5 of ALCS
- Bryan Abreu hit Adolis Garcia with a 99 mph fastball during Game 5 of the ALCS
- The pitcher, along with Astros manager Dusty Baker, was removed from the game
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Houston Astros pitcher Bryan Abreu was suspended for two games and fined Saturday by Major League Baseball, saying he intentionally threw at Adolis García of the Texas Rangers during Game 5 of the AL Championship Series.
MLB said all six umpires decided Abreu’s throw was intentional. MLB said it “took into account the dangerous nature of the field and its potential impact on player safety.”
Abreu’s suspension would begin Sunday with Game 6 unless he appeals. His throw caused a benches clearing incident, leading to a twelve-minute delay before play resumed.
The suspension was announced by MLB senior vice president Michael Hill. An appeal would be heard by John McHale Jr., a special assistant to baseball commissioner Rob Manfred.
García and Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. were fined, along with Texas pitcher Matt Bush. McCullers and Bush are prohibited from sitting on their team benches for the remainder of the series.
Houston Astros pitcher Bryan Abreu was suspended for two games and fined by the MLB
MLB said all six umpires decided Abreu’s throw, which hit Adolis Garcia, was intentional
Players clear the benches after Garcia (front) was hit in the eighth inning on Friday evening
Houston manager Dusty Baker was fined for his actions following his eviction. Baker stayed in the Astros dugout for six minutes before heading to the clubhouse.
Baker was asked about his thought process on Saturday as he returned to the dugout after being ejected.
“My thought process is that I wasn’t ready to go because it shouldn’t have happened in the first place,” he said. “That was my thought process.”
He was then asked what the officials said when they approached him in the dugout when he wouldn’t leave.
“Well, they didn’t say much,” he said. “They just turned around and said, ‘He’s not leaving.’ Then they turned around and said they can’t start until I leave.’
Houston manager Dusty Baker (second from left) was fined for his actions after his eviction
Baker was asked about the incident.
“It happens,” he said. ‘And you don’t write it. It’s a spontaneous, combustible reaction that spirals out of control. And most of us want to be under control. Most of us want to play ball. Most of them don’t want to box.’
Texas manager Bruce Bochy was asked if he thinks there will be a carryover of the scuffle into Game 6.
“Honestly, I don’t see this happening again,” he said.