TORONTO — Brett Lawrie heard the penalty, then expressed just one regret about his tantrum: that his batting helmet bounced up and hit an umpire.
TORONTO — Brett Lawrie heard the penalty, then expressed just one regret about his tantrum: that his batting helmet bounced up and hit an umpire.
Major League Baseball suspended Lawrie for four games and fined him an undisclosed amount Wednesday, a day after the Toronto third baseman got into an altercation with umpire Bill Miller.
Lawrie appealed and can play until there is a hearing, which could he held next week via video conference. He said he intended to apologize to Miller for being hit in the right hip.
“The only thing I would change is maybe not throwing the helmet or any equipment toward the umpire because you can get an unlucky hop and have the kind of mess that’s going on right now,” he said.
The 22-year-old Lawrie was in the starting lineup Wednesday night, going 0-for-4 in the Blue Jays’ 8-1 win over the New York Yankees.
Lawrie’s trouble began Tuesday night in the ninth inning in a game Toronto lost to Tampa Bay 4-3.
Lawrie started toward first base after he thought a 3-1 pitch missed, but Miller called it a strike.
On a full-count pitch that he believed was ball four, Lawrie again headed toward first base. When Miller called strike three, Lawrie momentarily crouched in disbelief. Lawrie dropped his bat, gestured at Miller and shouted, and was ejected.
Lawrie then started toward Miller, wound up with his right arm and slammed down his helmet. It bounced at the umpire’s feet and ricocheted up into him.
Nationals’ Wang says he’s willing to relieve
WASHINGTON — Right-hander Chien-Ming Wang is willing to pitch in relief — as unlikely as it seems that the Washington Nationals would ask him to do that.
Wang has yet to pitch for Washington this season after hurting his left hamstring during a spring training appearance March 15. He’s slated to make one more start at Triple-A Syracuse as part of his rehab work but was in Washington on Wednesday to throw a bullpen session in front of coaches.
All five members of Washington’s starting rotation — Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann, Edwin Jackson and Ross Detwiler — have pitched well this season.
MLB announces Mets as 2013 All-Star host
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball has announced the New York Mets will host the 2013 All-Star game at Citi Field.
The announcement was made Wednesday during a news conference at City Hall. The game will be July 16, 2013.
Indians’ Tomlin to get second MRI on wrist
CLEVELAND — Josh Tomlin isn’t quite sure when he’ll be back on the mound for the Cleveland Indians.
The right-hander said Wednesday that he is scheduled for a second MRI on his injured right wrist.
Tomlin has not pitched since going 7 1/3 innings in a no-decision against the Chicago White Sox on May 7 in the rain.