Major League Baseball upheld Bryan Abreu’s two-game suspension for “intentionally throwing” at Rangers outfielder Adolis García during Friday’s Game 5 win over Texas, the league announced Monday. Abreu will be allowed to serve the suspension at the beginning of next season meaning the Houston Astros reliever will be available for Game 7 of the American League Championship Series and for the remainder of the postseason if the Astros advance with a win Monday.
Abreu appealed the suspension, which was held in abeyance during the appeal process, so he was available to pitch in Game 6 on Sunday. He appeared in the eighth inning, recording two strikeouts, but allowed an RBI double to Mitch Garver in the Rangers’ eventual 9-2 win that tied the American League Championship Series.
Backstory
On Friday night, Abreu hit García with a pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning with the Rangers leading 4-2, igniting a benches-clearing scuffle. Following discussion among the umpires, Abreu, García and Houston manager Dusty Baker were ejected. The Astros went on to win 5-4.
Benches have cleared in Arlington. pic.twitter.com/F1abofICpX
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 20, 2023
Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. and Rangers pitcher Matt Bush were both assessed undisclosed fines and prohibited from sitting on their team’s bench for the rest of the American League Championship Series for their roles in the fracas. Neither pitcher is active for the series, but were fined “for their roles in the incident,” according to the league.
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(Photo: Carmen Mandato / Getty Images)
