New York: Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley was suspended for two games by Major League Baseball on Sunday for his slide that broke New York Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada’s right leg.
The punishment announced on Sunday night will bar the 36-year-old Utley from games three and four of the Dodgers’ National League Division Series.
Utley’s agent, Joel Wolfe, called the suspension “outrageous” and said the player would appeal. The appeal reportedly could be heard before game three on Monday in New York.
Utley’s play came in the seventh inning of game two of the series on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. Trying to break up a double play, Utley slid late and hard into Tejada near second base in the Dodgers’ 5-2 win.
The play keyed a four-run rally and the Dodgers levelled the best-of-five series at one game apiece.
Tejada’s leg was immediately placed in an air cast, and he was carted off the field.
MLB chief baseball officer Joe Torre said in a statement on Sunday that, while he believed Utley didn’t intend to injure Tejada, the slide still violated the rules.
“I should add that determining where to draw the line between an illegal slide and a legitimate hard play is an extremely difficult call for our umpires,” Torre said.
“However, after thoroughly reviewing the play from all conceivable angles, I have concluded that Mr. Utley’s action warrants discipline. While I sincerely believe that Mr. Utley had no intent of injuring Ruben Tejada, and was attempting to help his club in a critical situation, I believe his slide was in violation of Official Baseball Rule 5.09 (a)(13), which is designed to protect fielders from precisely this type of rolling block that occurs away from the base.”
The Mets issued a brief statement saying they “completely support” the decision.
