Gurriel banned 5 games for 2018

HOUSTON — The Astros get to keep Yuli Gurriel on the field for the remainder of the World Series, despite the first baseman’s racist gesture and words aimed at Yu Darvish on Friday night in the Astros’ 5-3 win over the Dodgers in Game 3 of the World Series.

On Saturday, commissioner Rob Manfred announced a fivegame suspension without pay that will be served at the start of the 2018 season by Gurriel.

The Astros can keep the lineup together that has been rolling since the ninth inning of Game 2.

The Fall Classic is all tied up, 2-2, after Houston failed to put themselves in position to close out at home with a 6-2 loss to the Dodgers on Saturday in Game 4.

Gurriel had played a key role in Friday night’s victory, homering off Darvish to lead off the second inning and also making two stellar defensive plays at first base.

In celebration in the dugout after the home run, the camera caught Gurriel making a “slanteyed” gesture and saying the Spanish word “chinito,” a slang term for “little Chinese guy,” in reference to the Japanese-born Darvish.

“Mr. Gurriel will be suspended for five games without pay,” Manfred said in a press conference before Game 4 at Minute Maid Park. “During the offseason, he will be required to undergo sensitivity training, and the Houston Astros, in a gesture of support, have agreed to donate the foregone salary to charitable causes.”

Manfred said it was important not to penalize the Astros’ other players for Gurriel’s inappropriate gesture.

“I was impressed in my conversation with Yu Darvish by his desire to move forward, and I felt that moving the suspension to the beginning of the season would help in that regard,” Manfred said.

“When I originally began thinking about the discipline, I thought that delaying the suspension would allow the player the opportunity to exercise his rights under the grievance procedure. It now appears and I have every expectation that he will not be exercising those rights.”