MLB announced on Tuesday that Texas Rangers pitcher Ian Gibaut has been suspended for three games for throwing a pitch behind Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres after San Diego's Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a grand slam during Monday's game at Globe Life Field.
Rangers manager Chris Woodward was suspended one game "as a result of Gibaut’s actions," per MLB. Gibaut and Woodward were also fined.
Tatis angered Woodward when he swung on a 3-0 pitch and crushed a grand slam with the Padres leading the Rangers 10-3 in the eighth inning. Gibaut responded by throwing a pitch well behind Machado:
Rangers pitcher Ian Gibaut threw behind Manny Machado right after Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a grand slam on a 3-0 pitch with the Padres leading by seven runs last night. pic.twitter.com/2eajDXt3UK
— ESPN (@espn) August 18, 2020
While Woodard criticized Tatis for violating one of baseball's alleged "unwritten rules" of sportsmanship, multiple players and others associated with the game came to Tatis' defense via social media on Monday night and Tuesday.
As explained by ESPN, Tatis apologized after the game and said that he'd "probably" take a 3-0 pitch if faced with a similar scenario in the future.
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