HOUSTON – Milwaukee Brewers reliever Abner Uribe has been suspended for one game and fined an undisclosed amount “for his inappropriate actions towards the St. Louis Cardinals’ dugout” in the eighth inning of the teams’ game at American Family Field on May 26, Major League Baseball announced May 29.
The suspension had been scheduled to be served Friday night in the Brewers’ series opener against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park, but Uribe is appealing the penalty and is eligible to play until that process plays itself out.
And indeed, Uribe did play a role in a 5-4, 10-inning Brewers victory as he escaped a two-on, nobody-out jam in the ninth to maintain a 4-4 tie, ultimately earning the victory to improve to 3-2 on the season.
“I’m sorry, but I have no comment about it,” Uribe said when asked about the suspension and appeal afterwards.
Brewers reliever Abner Uribe starts a celebration that eventually turns into a lewd gesture directed at the Cardinals’ dugout after recording the final out in the top of the eighth on May 26 at American Family Field in Milwaukee.
Uribe sent a series of crotch chops from the mound toward the Cardinals dugout at the end of that May 26 appearance, later explaining his actions as his way of addressing a belief that St. Louis was planning to throw at Brewers hitters Christian Yelich and William Contreras.
Cardinals manager Oli Marmol said the following day it was his belief the Brewers were stealing signs and relaying them from the dugout but that he did not order any Milwaukee batters to be hit.
“I don’t know the exact protocol here,” manager Pat Murphy said. “But we accept the fact that MLB has a job to do, and I’ll be the first one to say what Abner did was unacceptable. I’m not going to make any other statements about what’s fair and what’s not fair.
“Abner has the right to appeal. He’s done that, and I support him on that. We handled it internally with what we need to do. He clearly understands, he’s made the apologies he needs to make. It was sincere. I know the kid very well and I’m happy with that.
“Whatever else that isn’t in our control, we’ll act accordingly.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers’ Abner Uribe suspended for one game for gestures, is appealing