Mike Wright Jr. hits Shohei Ohtani with a pitch and is thrown out. White Sox manager Tony La Russa is also thrown out while trying to defend his pitcher. (0:23).
Major League Baseball has suspended Mike Wright, Chicago White Sox pitcher, and Tony La Russa, manager, for three games on Saturday. Wright was found to have intentionally thrown at Shohei Ohtani, Angels slugger on Thursday.
Wright appealed Michael Hill's suspension. Hill is MLB's senior vice-president for on-field operations. The suspension will remain in effect until John McHale Jr, the MLB special advisor, decides on an appeal.
La Russa was suspended immediately and sat out Chicago's match against Texas on Saturday. Miguel Cairo, the bench coach, ran La Russa’s dugout.
Wright was dismissed from Thursday's 9-3 loss. He had hit Ohtani in his calf, with a pitch that had two outs in the ninth. Crew chief Bill Welke also ejected La Russa for arguing.
La Russa stated Thursday that "it wasn't intentional." "[Welke] misunderstood it. It was inconsistent with No. 1. The way they treated the three hit-by pitches. Second, what was our retaliation?
In Tuesday's game, Angels pitchers struck White Sox batters Yoan Montcada, Luis Robert, and Jose Abreu.
This report was contributed by The Associated Press.
