FILE PHOTO: Jun 13, 2019; Denver, CO, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop Manny Machado (13) rounds the bases after his solo home run in the fifth inning against the against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado was suspended one game and fined an undisclosed amount for “aggressively arguing and making contact with” an umpire Saturday, MLB announced Monday.
The suspension was to be served Monday night, with the Padres hosting the Milwaukee Brewers, but it will be delayed after Machado chose to appeal.
Umpire Bill Welke ejected Machado in the top of the fifth inning of Saturday’s game against the Colorado Rockies in Denver, after Machado argued a called third strike. Machado responded by throwing his helmet to the ground, walking toward the umpire, yelling animatedly in Welke’s face and then throwing his bat to the backstop.
“This is just my personal opinion, but I just felt like our pitchers were making some of those pitches and weren’t getting calls on it,” Machado told reporters afterward. .”.. I just felt like it was unfair, and it changed the momentum of the game and the momentum of the at-bat. I just had to let him know what it was.”
An inning later, manager Andy Green and pitcher Matt Strahm were also tossed by Welke.
It was Machado’s first ejection since joining the Padres this year, and the fifth in his eight-year career.
The 26-year-old is batting .261 with 13 homers and 39 RBIs in 70 games after joining San Diego as a free agent.
—Field Level Media