Abbott won’t throw pitch, rebuffing voting-rights stance
AUSTIN, TEXAS » Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Monday that he wouldn’t throw the ceremonial first pitch as planned at the Texas Rangers’ home opener — the latest jab in a fight that’s pushing corporate America into the political battle over voting rights.
The Republican governor informed the Rangers via a letter, citing Major League Baseball’s decision to move the MLB All-Star Game from Atlanta in response to Georgia’s sweeping new voting laws, which include new restrictions on voting by mail and greater legislative control over how elections are run.
Abbott’s decision came hours before the team was set to take the field against the Toronto Blue Jays in the Dallas suburb of Arlington.
In the letter, Abbott said he will no longer participate in and that Texas won’t seek to host any future MLB events.
Reds’ Castellanos suspended 2 games in Hill’s 1st discipline
NEW YORK » Cincinnati Reds outfielder Nick Castellanos was suspended for two games and fined Monday for his role in an on-field brawl during the season’s opening weekend, the first discipline given by Michael Hill in his new role as Major League Baseball’s senior vice president for on-field operations.
Castellanos appealed the penalty to special assistant John McHale Jr. and will not serve the suspension while the appeal is pending.
Castellanos was disciplined for his actions in Saturday’s game against St.
Louis and was cited for “his aggressive actions and for instigating a benches-clearing incident.”
Castellanos, who homered on opening day and hopped out of the box before tossing his bat, was hit by a pitch from Cardinals pitcher Jake Woodford in the fourth inning Saturday. Castellanos retrieved the ball and offered to toss it back to Woodford before flipping it out of play.
A wild pitch sent Castellanos scampering home from third and he scored with a headfirst slide for a 7-2 lead, bumping into Woodford, who took the throw from catcher Yadier Molina at the plate.
Nationals, Braves to make up postponed game in doubleheader
WASHINGTON » The Nationals and Atlanta Braves will make up their game that was postponed Monday because of Washington’s coronavirus outbreak as part of a doubleheader on Wednesday.
Major League Baseball announced the change Monday while Washington’s players were working out at Nationals Park.
Four players on the Nationals have tested positive for COVID-19 and seven more have been placed under quarantine after contact tracing determined they potentially were exposed.
The 2019 World Series champions have yet to play a game this season. Their opening three-game series against the New York Mets was postponed entirely.
Washington will begin play Tuesday against Atlanta. The teams then will play two seven-inning games back-toback on Wednesday, with the first starting at 12:05 p.m. EDT.