Dusty Baker sat in the dugout after he was ejected following a situation on Friday during ALDS Game 5 where Houston Astros reliever Bryan Abreu threw a pitch, plunking Texas Rangers outfielder.
Bryan Abreu and Dusty Baker have been ejected from the game. pic.twitter.com/YbKtgv5JXZ
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 20, 2023
It took a while before Baker was asked by umpires to leave the dugout and head into the clubhouse during the Astros eventual 5-4 win.
“My thought process is I wasn’t ready to go because it shouldn’t have happened in the first place,” he said Saturday during the Astros’ workout day. “That was my thought process.”
Baker said the officials who spoke to him didn’t say a lot to him.
“Well, they didn’t say much,” he added. “They kind of just turned around and said, ‘He’s not leaving.’ Then they turned around and said they can’t start until I leave.”
As a result, Baker received an undisclosed fine.
Abreu received a two-game suspension along with an undisclosed fine after he hit García in the left shoulder with a 99 mph fastball. Benches cleared as García approached and confronted Astros catcher Martín Maldonado.
Bryan Abreu has been fined and suspended two games effective immediately for throwing at Adolis García. He can appeal.
Matt Bush, Lance McCullers Jr, Dusty Baker, and Adolis García were also fined.pic.twitter.com/SMVybPQRGW
— Michael Bier (@MichaelJBier) October 21, 2023
Abreu said he missed the pitch and it wasn’t intentional, however, MLB said otherwise in a statement saying all six officials on the field deemed it so.
García, along with pitchers Matt Bush and Lance McCullers Jr., all received undisclosed fines. Bush and McCullers will be prohibited from sitting on their benches for the remainder of the ALCS.
Astros manager Dusty Baker also has received an undisclosed fine as a result of his actions following his ejection from the game.
— Jessica Kleinschmidt (@KleinschmidtJD) October 21, 2023
Baker was asked if he anticipates any carryover from tensions between the two teams.
“Probably,” he said.
Game 6 of the ALCS begins Sunday at 8 p.m. ET with the Astros leading the series, 3-2.
