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Alden Gonzalez, ESPN Staff Writer
HOUSTON — Bryan Abreu‘s two-game suspension was upheld by an independent arbitrator but will be delayed until the start of the 2024 season, making the Houston Astros‘ primary setup reliever available for Game 7 of the AL Championship Series on Monday night.
Abreu was suspended in the wake of a benches-clearing incident in the eighth inning of Game 5 on Friday, when he threw a first-pitch fastball at the left arm of Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia.
Garcia, who two innings earlier had boisterously celebrated a go-ahead home run, immediately turned to Astros catcher Martin Maldonado, seemingly believing that he had called for the pitch inside, then went after him again after players from both sides had spilled onto the field during a 12-minute delay before play resumed.
MLB senior vice president of on-field operations Michael Hill on Saturday wrote that Abreu was punished for “intentionally throwing at” Garcia, adding that all six umpires had determined the pitch was intentional in ejecting him. MLB wrote that it “took into account the dangerous nature of the pitch and its potential impact on player safety.”
Abreu, along with several other members of the Astros, denied he hit Garcia on purpose. The right-hander appealed the ban prior to Game 6, clearing the way for his availability Sunday night.
The appeals hearing was held Monday before John McHale Jr., special assistant to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred. Abreu also was fined an undisclosed amount.
The players’ association declined to comment.
Houston manager Dusty Baker used Abreu for only one inning with the Astros trailing by just two runs late in an eventual Game 6 loss in hopes that the reliever might be available again in Game 7. That possibility prompted him to turn to Rafael Montero in the ninth, setting the stage for the five-run inning that turned Game 6 into a blowout.
“That was kind of what I was hoping for when I didn’t use him in a down game two innings yesterday,” Baker said Monday. “He told me he was prepared to throw as many as possible just in case he had to serve a suspension. So it’s a blessing to have him for today.”
Abreu would be eligible to pitch in the World Series should the Astros advance.
With 2.45 ERA in eight appearances this postseason, he has been one of Houston’s top relievers.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.