Matt Kemp receives one-game suspension for altercation with Rangers’ Chirinos

LOS ANGELES — Major League Baseball announced Friday that Matt Kemp and Robinson Chirinos each received a one-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for the incident during Wednesday’s game between the Dodgers and Rangers.

Kemp will appeal the suspension and said he was shocked and surprised to hear of the suspension. “I disagree with it,” said Kemp. “Nothing really happened.”

During the third inning Wednesday, Kemp tried to score from second on a Kiké Hernandez single to right field. Nomar Mazara's throw beat Kemp to the plate by plenty and brought Chirinos into the basepath.

With nowhere to slide, Kemp decided to run right through Chirinos. As the two rose to their feet, the two bumped and started pushing and shoving. The benches cleared and bullpens ran in for the typical non-brawl and there were no further complications.

“I thought it was a clean play,” Kemp told the media after the game. “Blocking the plate, ran him over. Pretty much that simple. I was out. It was the shoving match we had [that earned the ejections]. It’s not a big deal. Two guys shoving each other and then it’s over, really.”

Dodger manager Dave Roberts had the same reaction as Kemp, saying that he hopes the decision will be overturned after some discussion. “Obviously we disagree with it,” said Roberts. “I think you can debate who instigated that confrontation. There was no punch thrown on [Kemp’s] part. There was emotion on both sides. That’s old school baseball, no harm, no foul and both teams move forward.”