NEW YORK (AP) - St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Ryan Theriot was suspended for two games and fined for making contact with an umpire during an argument Sunday.
Theriot appealed the ban and was in the lineup for the opener of a three-game series against the New York Mets on Tuesday night.
Joe Garagiola Jr., the senior vice president of standards and on-field operations for Major League Baseball, made the announcement.
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa had Theriot in the batting order before the decision to appeal was made.
“I think there was contact made so that’s not surprising, but I think he is going to appeal because it was accidental,” La Russa said. “I think it was just his cap making contact, which happens sometimes but is not the same as putting your chest or arms on someone.”
During the sixth inning on Sunday, Theriot was involved in a play at second base that pulled him off the bag, resulting in a safe call for the runner by umpire Mike Muchlinski. Theriot ran to Muchlinski and pointed in his face while screaming. Theriot made contact with the umpire, who quickly ejected him, and first base umpire Chris Guccione had to step between the two.
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