Cincinnati Reds pitcher Amir Garrett has been fined and suspended by MLB for seven games for “inciting a benches-clearing incident” in Saturday’s game against the Chicago Cubs. Garrett said he will be appealing both the suspension and fine. The suspension was slated to begin Tuesday night during the Reds game vs. the White Sox, but until the appeal process is completed Garrett’s discipline will be held in abeyance. Cubs infielder Javier Báez was also fined an undisclosed amount for the incident.
The incident started when Garrett shouted from the mount and started beating his chest after striking out Anthony Rizzo in the eighth inning. Báez yelled at him from the dugout and Garrett shouted back a response. Báez hopped from the dugout and gestured for the Reds pitcher to come towards him, and benches cleared, though there were no punches thrown or ejections.
Garrett said after the game that it was “pent-up aggression” from his struggles this season, adding, “I felt really good, throwing 97 (mph), slider up to 87. I felt my normal self, so when I struck Rizzo out, I let him know. I let him know ‘I’m back.’ I’m good. I’m here. That’s basically all it was.”
Editorial credit: aceshot1 / Shutterstock.com