Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig suspended two games
Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig has been suspended for two games, Major League Baseball announced Thursday.
Puig was suspended for “fighting and inciting a bench-clearing incident” in Tuesday’s game against the San Francisco Giants, according to a statement from the league.
Puig and Giants catcher Nick Hundley were ejected. Both players were fined, but Hundley was not suspended.
The Dodgers did not play Thursday. They are scheduled to open a three-game series in Seattle against the Mariners on Friday. Puig has said he would appeal a suspension. If he does, he will remain active until the league rules on his appeal, or until he withdraws it.
He was suspended for one game last year, for making an obscene gesture toward fans at Cleveland’s Progressive Field. After he appealed, the suspension was lifted, and the league and players union agreed that Puig could instead make a charitable donation.
On Tuesday, Puig shoved Hundley after the catcher stood up and objected to an expletive Puig uttered after fouling off a pitch.
Puig said his frustration was directed at himself for missing a hittable pitch, not at Hundley or Giants pitcher Tony Watson.
After the benches cleared, Puig reached around one of the Dodgers coaches to take another swipe at Hundley.
Said Hundley: “We had some words and pushed a couple of times and you saw what happened. There’s really nothing more to it than that. That’s stuff that’s said on the field and that’ll be left out there.”
Roberts said he believed Hundley’s words instigated the incident but said he wished Puig could have restrained himself.
“Do I wish he could have stayed in the game? Absolutely,” Roberts said. “That’s the part I’m going to talk to Yasiel about. He’s more valuable in the game than out of the game.”
Follow Bill Shaikin on Twitter @BillShaikin
Are you a true-blue fan?
Get our Dodgers Dugout newsletter for insights, news and much more.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
