SEATTLE, Aug. 7 (Our Washington Times) — The Seattle Mariners defeated the Detroit Tigers 4-2 at T-Mobile Park, but the win was followed by suspensions for reliever Gabe Speier and manager Dan Wilson after Major League Baseball determined that Speier intentionally hit Tigers infielder Gleyber Torres with a pitch.
MLB suspended Speier for three games and fined him an undisclosed amount. Wilson received a one-game suspension and an undisclosed fine. Speier appealed, putting his suspension on hold while the appeal is pending.
Wilson served his suspension during the following day’s series finale. Mariners bench coach Manny Acta managed Seattle in Wilson’s place.
What happened on the field?
The incident began one-half inning earlier, when Tigers reliever Enmanuel De Jesús hit Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh with a fastball. MLB’s game account established that Raleigh was hit in the ribs or stomach area, but it did not make an official finding about whether De Jesús intended to hit him.
In the eighth inning, Speier faced Torres. Speier threw two straight pitches inside before hitting Torres in the upper-left leg with a 96.3 mph fastball.
Torres and Raleigh exchanged words after the pitch. The benches and bullpens then cleared, creating a confrontation on the field. MLB reported that there were no punches. Speier and Wilson were ejected.
MLB’s discipline announcement, issued by Senior Vice President of On-Field Operations Michael Hill, described Speier’s throw as intentional. That finding led to the three-game suspension.
Why was Wilson suspended?
Managers can be disciplined for their conduct during an on-field incident. MLB suspended Wilson for one game in connection with Speier’s intentional throw and Wilson’s actions during the confrontation.
“It is what the rule is, and not that I agree, but that’s where we are.”
He also said:
“I’ve never been suspended before.”
Unlike Speier, Wilson did not have a pending appeal noted in MLB’s announcement, so he served the suspension during the series finale.
What happens to Speier’s suspension?
An appeal allows Speier to delay serving the suspension while MLB reviews the discipline. The supplied MLB announcement did not state when the appeal would be decided or whether the suspension would be reduced, upheld or overturned.
If the suspension is upheld, Speier would serve three games and could be unavailable to Seattle’s bullpen during that period. MLB did not disclose the amount of Speier’s fine.
The available reports also did not provide a confirmed injury update for Torres or Raleigh. The Mariners’ 4-2 victory was the confirmed game result, but the supplied information did not include updated standings or records for either team.
