Blue Jays’ Gibbons, Bautista suspended after fight with Rangers
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Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons has been suspended three games for his role in the benches-clearing incident involving Jose Bautista and Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor on Sunday, while Bautista has been suspended one game, MLB announced Tuesday.
Odor was suspended eight games and fined $5,000 for punching Bautista in the face following the Blue Jays outfielder’s hard, late slide to break up a double play. The bad blood between the teams stemmed back to last year‘s divisional playoffs, during which Bautista famously punctuated a walk-off home run with an emphatic bat flip.
The fight itself started behind second base after Bautista, who was hit by a pitch from Rangers reliever Matt Bush to start the inning, committed a late slide while Odor was attempting to turn a double play. Odor immediately reacted, pushing Bautista and then landing a punch as they both moved forward. Players from both teams rushed the field, resulting in Bautista, Odor, Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson and Texas bench coach Steve Buechele being ejected.
Here is the full list of discipline, via the MLB:
• Bautista, Odor at fault in brawl, but MLB culture bears blame too
The Blue Jays and Rangers are not scheduled to play each other again this season.
