Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Joe Kelly was suspended by Major League Baseball for eight games on Wednesday after he intentionally pitched Houston Astros players Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa.
During the sixth inning of the Dodgers’ 5-2 win over Houston at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday, the benches were cleared after Kelly’s actions. It was the first game between the two clubs since the Astros were accused of stealing posters on the way to a 2017 World Series title. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was suspended for one game, and the manager of The Astros, Dusty Baker, was fined an undisclosed amount.
Kelly chose to appeal and can continue playing until the process is complete. Roberts was due to serve his suspension Wednesday when the Dodgers played in Houston. Kelly, a tough pitcher with a hint of madness, has been suspended earlier in his career for hitting a batter.
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The lingering animosity the Dodgers felt toward the Astros, who were penalized by MLB in the offseason after their scam came to light, was brewing. It was fired when Bregman, a star of the Astros’ career to his championship, reached the end of the sixth Tuesday night.
The Dodgers led 5-2 when Kelly, who was with Boston in 2017 and also faced Houston that postseason, threw a 3-0 fastball behind Bregman’s head. Bregman grimaced after jumping to avoid being hit, then jogged to first base.
There were two outs in the inning when Kelly threw a ball over Correa’s head. Correa, who hit a home run and finished with three hits, took off his batting helmet and looked at Kelly before continuing the at-bat.
Kelly punched Correa to finish the inning, then stuck her tongue out and grimaced in his direction. Correa started walking towards him and the players exchanged words, causing the banks to clear in the first incident of this season delayed by the pandemic.
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There was a lot of yelling and crowding, banned as MLB tries to play a 60-game season in the midst of the pandemic, but there was no jostling or hitting.
Kelly denied deliberately pitching to the Astros. He was asked if there was any additional motivation Tuesday because his Red Sox team lost to Houston in the American League Division Series in 2017.
“No. When I was with the Red Sox we beat them in ’18,” he said. “It’s one of those things that I throw competitively. Without fans here, it’s easy to hear some things (from the opposite haven) … there’s something that apparently they didn’t take too kindly. “
Houston was punished by the commissioners’ office in January for the cartel theft scheme, which led to the firing of general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch.
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Many players in the league were not happy that no player was disciplined for their role in the deception. The Dodgers had harsh words for the Astros during spring training, but Roberts said before the game that he did not believe his team would retaliate.
The penalties were imposed by former pitcher Chris Young, MLB’s senior vice president of baseball operations. This was his first case of discipline since he assumed the job of Joe Torre.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
