Major League Baseball suspended infielder Chase Utley for the next two games of his team’s playoff series over a slide Saturday night that broke a rival player’s leg.
“Los Angeles Dodgers Infielder Chase Utley has been suspended for Games Three and Four of the National League Division Series as a result of his illegal slide,” MLB said in a statement released Sunday.
Utley’s slide into second base, which was widely criticized as dirty, broke the shin bone of New York Mets infielder Ruben Tejada as he planted his feet at second and tried to turn what would have been an inning-ending double play.
As an immediate result of that failure to get the third out, the Dodgers scored a game-tying 2-2 run, and were able to extend the seventh inning. They took a 5-2 lead in that fateful inning and won the game.
The series is now tied one game apiece with the next two games scheduled for New York, on Monday and Tuesday.
According to Fox Sports, Utley will appeal his suspension. The MLB statement notes that Utley has that right and that the suspension would not take effect until any appeal has been heard.
If this were the regular season, it would be routine to hold the suspension in abeyance for several days or even weeks until a hearing could be scheduled and held. However the telescoped post-season schedule means this appeal likely will be decided quickly.
“I’m told MLB will try to expedite Utley’s appeal hearing tomorrow so matter can be decided by game time,” reported Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.
• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.
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