Toronto Blue Jays reliever Aaron Sanchez was suspended for three games after throwing a pitch at Kansas City Royals infielder Alcides Escobar on Sunday.
Blue Jays manager John Gibbons was handed a one-game suspension on Tuesday by Major League Baseball because he came back onto the field after he had been earlier ejected from the game during Toronto’s 5-2 win.
Sanchez hit Escobar on the knee with a pitch during the eighth inning. The two teams had been issued a warning in the first inning after Royals starter Edinson Volquez plunked Toronto’s Josh Donaldson with a pitch. Both benches emptied.
Gibbons will serve his suspension during Tuesday night’s game against the Minnesota Twins, but Sanchez has the option to appeal.
The Blue Jays were upset because Royals reliever hit Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki with a pitch in the seventh inning and wasn’t ejected by home-plate umpire Jim Wolf. Multiple pitches were thrown inside during the game.
The 23-year-old Sanchez has a 6-4 record with a 3.44 ERA in 16 appearances and 11 starts this season.