Marisnick of Astros suspended two games
Houston Astros outfielder Jake Marisnick was suspended for two games by Major League Baseball on Thursday for his violent home plate collision with Los Angeles Angels catcher Jonathan Lucroy before the All-Star break.
Marisnick said he still felt terrible about the play and had a rough couple of days during the break to digest the situation. He also said he had spoken with Lucroy, who sustained a concussion and a broken nose.
“I’ve seen a lot of takes on it, and obviously everybody has their own opinion,” Marisnick said. “But I know deep down in my heart that I had no intent to hurt, or make contact, with him.”
Joe Torre, MLB’s chief baseball officer, said he thoroughly reviewed the play from all angles. While acknowledging he didn’t believe Marisnick intended to injure Lucroy, Torre said the actions in last Sunday’s game warranted discipline because they violated MLB rules designed to protect catchers from that type of situation.
Marisnick, who also was fined, appealed the suspension and was available to play against Texas on Thursday though he wasn’t in the starting lineup. He said he wanted an opportunity to speak more thoroughly with MLB officials about the play.
Lucroy was carted off the field after the collision at the end of the eighth inning of a home game the Astros won in 10 innings. Marisnick was called out for colliding with Lucroy, and the call was upheld after a crew chief review.
RANGERS’ LYNN DOMINATES FOR
12TH WIN » Lance Lynn matched his season high with 11 strikeouts in seven stellar innings for his major league-best 12th victory and the Texas Rangers beat the AL West-leading Houston Astros 5- 0 in the only game Thursday night when Major League Baseball resumed after the AllStar break.
Lynn (12- 4) won his fifth consecutive start, and is 8-1 over his last 10 starts. He scattered six hits (five singles and a double) and walked two while throwing 75 of 110 pitches for strikes.
Astros shortstop Alex Bregman left after a groundball bounced up and hit him on the chin in the third inning. The team said he had a lacerated chin. Bregman was shifted toward the middle of the infield when he went to field a grounder hit by Shin-Soo Choo. The ball took a late high hop and caught Bregman squarely below the mouth. ORTIZ UNDERGOES MORE SURGERY » Former Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz underwent additional surgery as he continues to recover from a gunshot wound sustained more than a month ago.
“Earlier this week, David underwent a third surgery for complications resulting from his gunshot wound,” his wife, Tiffany, said in a statement. “The operation was performed by Dr. David King at Massachusetts General Hospital. David is recovering well and is in good spirits.
“We continue to be incredibly appreciative of the kindness and compassion shown to David and to our entire family during this difficult time.”
Ortiz, 43, was shot in the back on June 9 as he sat at a club in the Dominican Republic. Local officials have said Ortiz was shot in a case of mistaken identity and have at least 14 people in custody in connection with the shooting.
INDIANS’ CARRASCO REMAINS
POSITIVE » Carlos Carrasco’s smile remains bright, his mood and outlook as positive as ever. Outwardly, the Indians’ righthander doesn’t seem different. He’s determined not to let cancer change him.
“I never put anything bad on my mind,” Carrasco said. “Everything’s good. So I don’t feel different. I just push myself to work more and get stronger.”
Diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia last month, the 32-year- old Carrasco spoke to media members for the first time since his life took a dramatic, unexpected turn. As he dealt with so many unknowns, Carrasco said he’s never once asked “why me” after learning of his condition.
“I’m not that kind of person,” he said. “If it’s happened, it’s for a reason.”