HOUSTON – Pitcher Los Angeles Dodgers Joe Kelly was suspended for eight major league baseball games on Wednesday, the day after he had thrown a fastball near the head of Houston Alex Bregman and mockingly mock Astro’s star Carlos Correa.
The banks were cleared after Kelly’s actions during the sixth inning of Los Angeles 5-2 victory at Minute Maid Park. The game was the first time the teams met since it became known that Houston had stolen signs on the way to a 2017 World Series title that was at the expense of the Dodgers.
Dodger’s manager Dave Roberts was banned from playing and Astro’s manager Dusty Baker was fined.
Kelly has appealed and will be able to continue playing until the process is complete. Roberts served his sentence on Wednesday night when the Dodgers played in Houston.
Kelly, a tough thrower with a hint of ferocity, was previously suspended in his career for throwing at a batsman.
The continued hostility the Dodgers had toward the Astros, which MLB punished in the off-season after their fraud came to light, had brewed. It bubbled over when Bregman, a star of the Astros run to their championship, finished sixth on Tuesday evening.
The Dodgers led 5-2 when Kelly, who was at Boston in 2017 and also faced Houston in the postseason, shot a 3-0 fastball behind Bregman’s head. Bregman grimaced after jumping to avoid being hit, and then trotted to the first base.
There were two outs in the inning when Kelly threw a breaking ball over Correa’s head. Correa, who returned and ended with three goals, took off his helmet and stared at Kelly before continuing the attack.
Kelly knocked Correa out to finish the inning, then stuck out her tongue and grimaced in his direction. Correa walked up to him and the players exchanged words, prompting the banks to clear the first such incident of this pandemic season.
There has been a lot of shouting and rushing – banned because MLB is trying to play a 60-game season amid the pandemic – but no shots or punches were thrown.
Kelly denied that he had deliberately thrown on the Astros. He was asked if there was additional motivation on Tuesday since his Red Sox team lost to Houston in the AL Division Series in 2017.
“No. When I was with the Red Sox, we beat them 18,” he said. “It’s one of those things that make me competitive. Since there are no fans here, it’s easy to hear a few things (from enemy shelter) … there is something they didn’t seem to be particularly friendly for. “
After the game, Roberts said he wasn’t sure if Kelly’s pitches were retaliation for Houston’s fraud.
“I really don’t know, to be perfectly honest,” he said. “I know that he came 3-0 behind Bregman and lost a fast ball. I really don’t think there is any intention behind it. I think these guys were a little offended. Even Correa’s was a breaking ball that just pulled back. “
“Obviously, the expectation that things will go into the series may have escalated a bit. I don’t know if the word is premature, but that’s exactly what happened,” he said.
Baker said, “Balls get away sometimes, but not that many in the big leagues.”
“If you throw a 3-0 fastball over a man’s head, you’re flirting with ending his career,” he said.
Baker said things really got out of control because Kelly told Correa after the strike.
“We didn’t say anything,” he said. “We don’t start anything. But we don’t take anything either. “
Order was restored after a few minutes and there were no ejections, but Baker was still upset before the game resumed and faced a referee.
Bregman avoided questions about the incident after the game, and Correa did not speak to reporters.
Houston was punished in January by the Commissioners’ Office for the theft of signs, which resulted in the dismissal of General Manager Jeff Luhnow and Manager AJ Hinch.
Many players in the league were unhappy that no players were disciplined for their role in cheating. The Dodgers had tough words for the Astros during spring training, but Roberts said before the game that he didn’t think his team would return the favor.
The penalties were imposed by the former pitcher Chris Young, Senior vice president of baseball operations at MLB. This was his first disciplinary case since taking over from Joe Torre’s job.
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