Dodgers Puig is suspended for two games for fighting
Cubs’ Darvish scheduled to make another rehab start Sunday
NEW YORK — Los Angeles outfielder Yasiel Puig has been suspended for two games and fined an undisclosed fine for fighting and inciting a benchclearing incident against San Francisco.
Major League Baseball announced the sanctions Thursday, two days after the Cuban player took a swing at Giants catch Nick Hundley in the seventh inning of the Dodgers’ 2-1 home loss. Hundley also was fined.
Barring an appeal, Puig is scheduled to begin the suspension today at Seattle.
The fracas started when Puig swatted his bat in frustration after fouling off a pitch from Tony Watson, and Hundley said something to the slugger while still in his crouch. Puig turned around and walked toward Hundley, the catcher stood up, and they argued face to face before Puig shoved Hundley twice.
That brought players out of the benches and bullpens. Puig and Hundley were momentarily separated, but Puig ducked around teammates, coaches and manager Dave Roberts before reaching back to hit Hundley. He smacked Hundley with an open hand across the front of his catcher’s mask. Dodgers coach George Lombard was trying to push Hundley away when Puig took his swing. Lombard and Hundley briefly ended up on the grass. After the players were separated for good, the umpires ejected Puig and Hundley.
Puig also got into a skirmish with Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner in 2014.
CUBS: Chicago right-hander Yu Darvish will begin a rehab assignment Sunday with a minor league team to be determined.
Signed to a $126-million, sixyear contract as a free agent in February, Darvish last pitched for the Cubs on May 20 and is 1-3 with a 4.95 ERA in eight starts. He has been sidelined with right triceps tendinitis and an impingement in his right shoulder.
Darvish made a rehab start June 25 with Class A South Bend but then felt pain in his arm afterward.
“I talked to Yu today and he was very optimistic,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Thursday night before the Cubs played the Pittsburgh Pirates.
RANGERS: Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre is still out of the lineup because of his troublesome left hamstring, but still on the active roster.
Beltre said before the Rangers’ game Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels that he is feeling better than he did when he strained the hamstring earlier this season. The 39-year-old third baseman was on the DL twice earlier this season, and aggravated the injury Monday night.
The Rangers activated right fielder Nomar Mazara from the 10-day disabled list. He hadn’t played since the All-Star break because of a sprained right thumb.
Outfielder Willie Calhoun was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock. Calhoun hit .275 with nine RBIs in 22 games with the Rangers after being called up July 20 when Mazara was formally put on the DL.