Red Sox’s David Ortiz suspended 1 game for incident with umpire
Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz was suspended for one game and fined an undisclosed amount after an incident with umpire John Tumpane during Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles.
The suspension, which Ortiz plans to appeal, was announced Tuesday by Joe Garagiola Jr., senior vice president of standards and on-field operations for Major League Baseball. Ortiz plans to appeal.
Ortiz was expected to begin serving the suspension on Tuesday night during a road game against the Tampa Bay Rays, but it was put on hold until his appeal is heard and a review is completed.
Ortiz made contact with Tumpane during the bottom of the fifth inning at Fenway Park while arguing a strike call and was ejected.
With Boston trailing 5-3, Ortiz checked his swing on a 1-1 pitch from Baltimore starter Miguel Gonzalez, resulting in third base umpire Jerry Meals calling the strike. Ortiz appeared shocked with the call before turning and arguing with Tumpane, the home-plate umpire who immediately tossed the designated hitter from the game.
After standing face to face with Tumpane, who took over behind the plate in the bottom of the fourth when Paul Emmel left the game for undisclosed reasons, Ortiz walked slowly toward Boston’s dugout, tossing his bat and helmet along the way.
Daniel Nava replaced Ortiz during the at-bat and grounded out to short.
Ortiz, who was 0-for-1 with a walk before being ejected, is off to a slow start this season, batting .231 (9-for-31) with two homers and three RBIs.
