MLB reduces Jose Ramirez’s suspension to two games after Guardians slugger leveled White Sox star Tim Anderson with a devastating right hook in a brawl
MLB reduces Jose Ramirez’s suspension to two games after Guardians slugger leveled White Sox star Tim Anderson with a devastating right hook in a brawl
- Ramirez was initially suspended for three games, MLB ruled
- Anderson was suspended for six games for starting the fight with rival Ramirez
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Cleveland Guardians All-Star third baseman José Ramírez has had his MLB suspension cut from three games to two on Saturday for fighting with Chicago’s Tim Anderson.
Ramírez, who knocked Anderson down with a wild, well-placed punch, will serve the suspension this weekend during Cleveland’s series in Tampa Bay.
“It’s no fun not having him for 10 minutes let alone two games,” Guardians manager Terry Francona said ahead of Saturday’s game with the Rays. ‘But I’m glad it’s two instead of three. This morning we received the final verdict.’
Without Ramírez in the lineup, the Guardians squandered a strong outing from rookie starter Gavin Williams and lost 6-5. Williams struckout 10 batters in five innings.
Ramírez will also compete in Sunday’s series finale.
Jose Ramírez knocked Tim Anderson to the ground with a wild, well-placed punch
Anderson was suspended for six games for fighting with Ramirez near second base and causing a melee on August 5 between the Guardians and White Sox that lasted several minutes and included several other flare-ups.
MLB handed out his sentence two days after the brawl, but Ramírez continued to play this week until his appeal could be heard. Anderson also appealed his suspension.
Ramírez hits .156 (5 of 32) in 10 games this month.
“I told him, I said ‘Hey, take a deep breath’ because he really didn’t get an All-Star break,” said Francona. “He went to Seattle (for the All-Star Game). Hopefully this is very good for him and we try to do without him, which is not fun.’
Chicago White Sox’s Michael Kopech, right, holds off Cleveland Guardians’ Jose Ramire
Gabriel Arias started at third base on Saturday.
Francona, third base coach Mike Sarbaugh and closer Emmanuel Clase were all suspended for one game. Chicago manager Pedro Frifol is also suspended for one game.
One of baseball’s top all-around players, Ramírez hits .282 with 18 home runs and 65 RBIs in 113 games.
He will likely be back in Cleveland’s lineup on Tuesday, when the Guardians, who rank Minnesota with 3 1/2 games in the AL Central, open a two-game series in Cincinnati.