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LOS ANGELES — Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig was suspended one game for giving the double middle finger to some fans on Tuesday at Progressive Field in Cleveland, MLB chief baseball officer Joe Torre announced on Wednesday.
Puig was also fined an undisclosed amount, and is appealing the suspension. He is starting in right field, batting ninth for the Dodgers on Wednesday.
Puig hit a two-run home run in the second inning on Tuesday, and on his way back to the dugout responded to some fans who had been heckling him during the game.
There aren’t a ton of comparable incidents to measure Puig’s punishment. But in April 2016, Tigers outfielder Tyler Collins flipped off home fans and was not suspended by MLB. Though he only used one finger, and not two.
Puig addressed the incident after Tuesday’s game, and didn’t seem to be expecting the suspension.
Yasiel Puig said he was getting heckled. "I reacted that way," he said. "I stooped to their level."
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) June 14, 2017
Yasiel Puig said he'll pay a fine if he has to. His teammates found this whole thing hilarious.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) June 14, 2017
Manager Dave Roberts spoke with Puig on Wednesday about the incident.
Dave Roberts on his talk with Puig: "It was something he wishes hadn’t happened. It was a reaction of emotion on his part. Bad judgment."
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) June 14, 2017
"I just made it clear I want to talk about all our players in the context of what they do on the field and not off the field. He understood"
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) June 14, 2017