Major League Baseball suspended Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Aroldis Chapman for two games and fined him for “inappropriate actions” during the eighth inning of a 6-3 loss to the host New York Mets on Monday, the league announced Thursday.
Unless he appeals, Chapman’s suspension begins on Friday when the Pirates host the Boston Red Sox. If he elects to appeal, the discipline is halted until the process is complete.
Chapman (0-1, 4.76 ERA) had given up a two-run double to the Mets’ Harrison Bader and then walked over to home plate and spoke to umpire Edwin Moscoso, who ejected him.
“He evidently said something that the umpire did not like,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said after Monday’s game.
With the game tied 3-3, Chapman struck out Francisco Alvarez, then got Jeff McNeil looking, but he reached first on a wild pitch on strike three. Chapman walked DJ Stewart on a full count, and both runners moved up one base on steals before Harrison Bader drove in the go-ahead run.
Chapman was charged with three runs and took the loss.
