New York, NY (Betting Express) - Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie
has received a four-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for his aggressive
actions toward umpire Bill Miller during Tuesday's game against the Tampa Bay
Rays.
Lawrie's tirade took place in the bottom of the ninth inning. Trailing 4-3
with one out, Lawrie appeared to draw a walk when Fernando Rodney's 3-1 pitch
caught Jose Molina's glove nearly a foot off the plate.
Lawrie, 22, began his trot to first base but was stopped in his tracks when
Miller made a late strike call.
Rodney's payoff pitch looked out of the strike zone, and Lawrie again started
towards first with an apparent walk. This time, Miller wasted little time
calling the pitch a strike, and Lawrie erupted.
Just as Miller was ejecting him from the game, Lawrie spiked his helmet in the
umpire's direction, and it struck Miller in the leg after hitting the ground.
Blue Jays manager John Farrell needed to separate the two, and he too was
ejected by the time Lawrie made his way to the dugout.
Rodney retired the next hitter to complete Tampa Bay's sweep of the two-game
series.
Lawrie has elected to appeal the suspension and is in the lineup for
Wednesday's game against the New York Yankees.
