MLB Suspends Pirates’ Manager and Pitcher

Devenski defended himself after the game and said that he did not intentionally hit Stewart, especially with the Pirates having such a big lead in the eventual 17-7 blowout.

Kelly came out after to talk with first base umpire and crew chief Alan Porter, who ejected Devenski, but did not get ejected and remained in his post the rest of the game.

It is the first time that Kelly has been suspended as Pirates manager and he can serve that suspension for the series opener on May 5 and return for the final two games of the series.

Kelly, like Devenski, can also appeal that suspension and either win it to not miss a game or will serve it later if he loses that appeal.

What Happened Between Devenski and Stewart

Stewart came up to bat to leadoff the top of the seventh inning and before the first pitch, he stepped outside the box for a batter's timeout.

Devenski then threw a 92 mph sinker that went inside and hit Stewart, who tried to jump out of the way and had his helmet fall off in the process. Stewart then let Devenski know he didn't appreciate that pitch and Pirates catcher Henry Davis stepped in to try cool things down between the two.

Porter then tossed Devenski and the Pirates went with right-handed relief pitcher Yohan Ramírez afterwards. This marked the first time that a Pirates player earned an ejection this season.

“Going hard in to start an at bat, I know the guy likes to dive over, that’s about it," Devenski said about the incident. "Just trying to execute my pitch there and I think he took it the wrong way. It is what it is. Hey, I’m not going to back down from anything either.”

Kevin Gorman of the Tribune-Review was the Pirates pool reporter who spoke with Porter afterthe game. Porter told Gorman that the umpires believed Devenski intentionally threw at Stewart that both the batter's timeout and how Devenski reacted to it led to his ejection.

“We had the situation lead up to it with (Devenski) stepping off the rubber and (Stewart) stepping out of the box," Porter said to Gorman. "Still had time and stepped out. After that, (Devenski) stepped up and he fired the pitch and, we believe, threw it at him intentionally. That’s why we ejected him.”