CHICAGO (AP) Major League Baseball has upheld a one-game suspension of Minnesota third baseman Miguel Sano for his role in a scrap with Detroit last month.
MLB announced Sano had to sit out Tuesday's game at the Chicago White Sox. The punishment was levied two weeks ago but delayed pending Sano's appeal. He also was fined.
''It wasn't a surprise, but it's frustrating not to be with the team,'' Sano said.
Twins manager Paul Molitor questioned the decision and its timing.
''For me, he was provoked twice - by the pitcher and the catcher,'' Molitor said. ''I don't think that his reactions are surprising given the fact that he didn't initiate either of those. It has been drawn out, and I'm not sure why that's happening, either. They had the hearing on Friday. We don't get anything until today, when they could have possibly announced it yesterday and we could have planned a little bit.''
MLB criticized Sano for ''aggressive actions'' that caused the benches to clear during the April 22 game against the Tigers. After Detroit's JaCoby Jones was hit on the face by a pitch from Twins reliever Justin Haley, Tigers starter Matt Boyd threw behind Sano.
Sano pointed his bat and yelled at Boyd. After Tigers catcher James McCann intervened by putting his mitt in Sano's face, Sano punched McCann in the mask.
Boyd was fined.
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