Featured Columnist IVSeptember 11, 2024
Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Photos
Main League Baseball initially suspended Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Edwin Uceta three video games Wednesday for his function within the benches-clearing scuffle throughout Tuesday’s recreation in opposition to the Philadelphia Phillies, per Matt Gelb of The Athletic.
Nevertheless, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Instances famous the suspension was lowered to 2 video games and can start Wednesday.
The league additionally suspended Rays supervisor Kevin Money for one recreation.
Uceta struggled within the eighth inning of Tuesday’s contest and allowed 5 runs to attain earlier than he hit Nick Castellanos with a pitch. The benches and bullpens emptied, and the right-hander was ejected from the competition.
MLB @MLB
Benches clear in Philadelphia between the Phillies and the Rays. pic.twitter.com/KkdmS9AmZS
The sport was tied at 4 when Uceta entered, however he allowed a two-run double to Cal Stevenson, an RBI single to Buddy Kennedy and a two-run homer to Trea Turner. Bryce Harper then doubled earlier than Castellanos got here to the plate because the inning continued to slide away from the pitcher.
Uceta was in the end charged with three earned runs in 0.1 innings of labor.
“I imply, you are throwing a baseball over 90 mph,” Castellanos told reporters. “You are pissed off and you are going to throw at anyone? That is like my two-year-old throwing a match as a result of I take away his dessert earlier than he is completed.”
Castellanos pointed at Uceta and threw up his arms in frustration, whereas Harper yelled on the pitcher whereas strolling towards the mound from second base.
For his half, Uceta said he did not throw at Castellanos on objective.
Tampa Bay is working out of time to make any kind of life like run within the American League playoff chase. It’s six video games again of the ultimate wild-card spot with simply 17 video games remaining.
Regardless of his poor efficiency in Tuesday’s loss, Uceta has been largely glorious for Tampa Bay out of the bullpen this season with a 1.49 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 51 strikeouts in 36.1 innings. It is going to be much more tough for the crew to make up floor within the playoff race when he’s out for his suspension.
