The Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers got in a minor scuffle Wednesday night after Matt Kemp collided with Robinson Chirinos at home plate. Kemp and Chirinos shoved one another, were separated by teammates and ejected from the game.
Kemp later defended his choice to run into Chirinos instead of slide, explaining he feared an injury like one he suffered in 2013. Chirinos said after the game that he only took offense when Kemp allegedly shoved him while standing back up.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and Rangers skipper Jeff Bannister both defended the legality of Kemp’s choice since Chirinos was clearly blocking the plate. The game continued without any more issues, and the Dodgers won in extra innings.
Kemp also added that he doubted any bad blood will carry over when the two teams face each other again in August. However, Major League Baseball decided that the incident deserved punishment, handing one-game suspensions to Kemp and Chirinos.
Chirinos did not appeal his suspension and served it on Friday. Kemp, however, appealed and has continued to play, in part due to being surprised by the decision, per Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
#Dodgers Matt Kemp said he was “shocked, surprised” to get suspended. “I disagree with it. … Nothing really happened.”
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) June 15, 2018
While he’s continued to play, Kemp has hit a home run in the past two games. He’s had a stunning resurgence since his return to the Dodgers, often carrying the team’s offense like he once did.
Many doubted that Kemp would even make the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster when the team re-acquired him from the Atlanta Braves in the winter, and now it’s fair to question where the team would be without him.
The decision on Kemp’s appeal could have a big effect on the red-hot Dodgers as they face an upcoming series with the Chicago Cubs.
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