Major League Baseball announced Thursday that it has suspended Astros outfielder Jake Marisnick for two games and issued an undisclosed fine after he collided with Angels catcher Jonathan Lucroy at home plate on Sunday in Houston.
“After thoroughly reviewing the play from all angles, I have concluded that Jake’s actions warrant discipline,” Joe Torre, MLB’s chief baseball officer, said as part of an official statement released by the Commissioner’s Office on Thursday. “While I do not believe that Jake intended to injure Jonathan, the contact he initiated in his attempt to score violated Official Baseball Rule 6.01(i), which is designed to protect catchers from precisely this type of collision.”
The play in question came in the eighth inning of the Astros’ 11-10 win Sunday at Minute Maid Park. The game was tied at 10 and the Astros had the bases loaded with one out when George Springer lofted a fly ball to Kole Calhoun in right field. Calhoun fired a throw home that brought Lucroy in front of home plate and Marisnick, who was taking an inside line to the plate. Marisnick and Lucroy made contact in a violent collision, which resulted in a concussion and a fractured nose for the Angels catcher as the ball got away.
Marisnick was ruled out for violating Rule 6.01(i), which states that a baserunner may not deviate from his direct path to home plate in order initiate contact with the catcher. The Astros challenged the play, but the umpires’ ruling was upheld and the Angels recorded an inning-ending double play.
Angels manager Brad Ausmus was not happy with the play, stating Sunday that MLB should “consider some type of suspension, quite frankly.” Marisnick expressed concern for Lucroy’s well-being after Sunday’s game, and he maintained that he did no intentionally try to collide with the catcher, stating that he made “a split second decision at full speed to slide headfirst on the inside part of the plate.”
“That decision got another player hurt, and I feel awful,” Marisnick tweeted from his personal account Sunday. “I hope nothing but the best for [Lucroy].”
Unless he decides to appeal, Marisnick’s suspension will begin Thursday when the Astros face the Rangers in Arlington to kick off the season’s second half. It is unknown at this point whether Marisnick will indeed appeal the suspension.
MLB.com
 

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