MIAMI — Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina decided not to appeal a five-game suspension for bumping an umpire and spraying him with spittle.
Molina received the suspension Thursday and began serving it hours later when St. Louis opened a four-game series at Florida. The Cardinals are chasing the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers and face them in a crucial three-game series beginning Tuesday.
Molina will return from his suspension Wednesday.
“I was looking at it like, take it right away,” he said. “You want to be part of the race. It’s better to do it now and get it done with and move on.”
Another factor in the decision not to appeal was the bruise on the palm of Molina’s right hand. The injury occurred when he blocked a pitch Wednesday, and he said it likely would have kept him out of two or three games anyway.
Molina said the spittle was unintentional but apologized for his tantrum after getting called out on strikes by umpire Rob Drake on Tuesday in Milwaukee. He also was fined an undisclosed amount.
• Cardinals third baseman David Freese is day to day after taking a pitch to the helmet from Florida’s Clay Hensley in the third inning Thursday night.
A-Rod declines to reveal hand
TAMPA, Fla. — Alex Rodriguez refused to discuss a Major League Baseball investigation into his involvement in illegal poker games, ending an interview with a one-word answer.
The Yankees had said the injured star would stop his post-workout media session at the team’s minor-league training complex if any reporter posed an non- baseball question.
Rodriguez spoke for several minutes about his recovery from knee surgery. But when asked if he would not discuss the poker games, he said “yep” and walked to his car. Rodriguez’s publicist, however, said the third baseman was looking forward to cooperating with MLB in its poker probe.
Footnotes.
Mets pitcher Johan Santana has fatigue in his surgically repaired left shoulder and will stop throwing until he regains his strength.
• Marlins second baseman Omar Infante broke his right middle finger diving for a grounder against St. Louis.
• The Giants reinstated infielder Mark DeRosa (wrist) from the 60-day disabled list and optioned Brandon Belt to Triple-A Fresno.
• The Angels demoted right-hander Joel Piñeiro to the bullpen following his fourth poor start in a row.
• The Mariners released former Rockies prospect Jack Cust.
The Associated Press
