Reds' Joey Votto receives 1-game suspension for bumping umpire
Joey Votto will not play Friday night after MLB handed him a one-game suspension for bumping home plate umpire Chris Conroy on Wednesday night.
The Cincinnati Reds first baseman was also fined as a result of the incident, though the figure is unclear.
"I feel very strongly it was fair," said Votto, who wasn't permitted to choose what day he would serve his suspension.
After going down on three straight strikes against Pittsburgh Pirates' starter Gerrit Cole, Votto was infuriated to the point where he flipped his bat and spiked his helmet in anger.
Before going out to the field, he went off after learning that he was tossed for making contact with the official.
Reds manager Bryan Price jumped out of the dugout when he saw Votto and Conroy engaged in the heated moment, but couldn't get there before the slugger crossed the line.
On Friday, Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz lost his appeal in which he was suspended one game for a similar incident over balls and strikes.