Chapman is hit with a suspension

Pittsburgh Pirates reliver Aroldis Chapman was suspended two games and fined an undisclosed amount Thursday for his “inappropriate actions” against the Mets three days earlier.

Michael Hill, Major League Baseball’s senior vice president for on-field operations, made the announcement and said Chapman’s suspension begins Friday when the Pirates are scheduled to host the Red Sox in the opener of a three-game seriess. Chapman could appeal, which would delay the punishment until that process is complete.

Chapman (0-1) was ejected by plate umpire Edwin Moscoso after Harrison Bader doubled in the eighth inning of the Pirates’ 6-3 loss to the Mets.

“He evidently said something that the umpire did not like,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said.

Rays hang on

Ryan Pepiot allowed one run and three hits in six strong innings, Amed Rosario hit an RBI triple in Tampa Bay’s two-run first, and the Rays beat the Angels, 2-1, to split their four-game series in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Pepiot (2-2) struck out seven and walked three after having some stomach issues before the game.

Pepiot felt physically fine on the mound, but a little tired.

“I was going to take the ball no matter what,” he insisted.

Colin Poche, the third Rays reliever, worked out of a jam with two on and two outs in the ninth for his second save in three chances. Struggling closer Pete Fairbanks, who has a 9.00 ERA, pitched in the previous two games.

Rosario extended his hitting streak to 10 games with his RBI triple that made it 1-0 in the Rays’ opening inning against Griffin Canning (0-3). He has nine RBIs over the stretch.

The Angels got within 2-1 in the sixth when Mike Trout walked, stole second and third, and scored on Miguel Sano’s sacrifice fly. Trout has five steals this year after having just a combined six over the previous four seasons. It was his 23rd multisteal game, and first since July 23, 2018.

Leody Taveras scored the winning run on a fielder’s choice in the eighth inning and added an RBI single in the ninth to lead the Rangers to a 9-7 victory over the Tigers in Detroit.

Taveras doubled with one out, advanced to third on Marcus Semien’s fielder’s choice grounder and scored on Corey Seager’s grounder that broke a 7-all tie. Taveras added an insurance run with a two-out hit in the ninth.

Shelby Miller (3-2), the fifth of six Detroit pitchers, took the loss for the second day in row.

The game marked the major league debut of Texas starter Jack Leiter, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft. He was brought up from Triple A Round Rock, where he was 1-1 with 25 strikeouts and three walks in 14 innings over three appearances.

Rainout at Wrigley

Thursday night’s Marlins-Cubs game at Wrigley Field in Chicago was postponed because of rain in the forecast.

It will be made up as part of a split-doubleheader on Saturday.