Update:
On Monday afternoon, the Commissioner’s office handed down penalties for each player’s actions on Saturday. Initially, Sano was immediately ejected. After a period of conferencing to determine the intentionality of Boyd’s pitch, the umpires also decided to toss Boyd. According to Evan Woodbery of MLive.com,
“DETROIT TIGERS PITCHER MATTHEW BOYD WAS FINED AN UNDISCLOSED AMOUNT BY MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL FOR INTENTIONALLY THROWING AT MINNESOTA TWINS THIRD BASEMAN MIGUEL SANO ON SATURDAY.
SANO WAS FINED AND SUSPENDED ONE GAME FOR “AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS” AFTER A PITCH THROWN BY BOYD SAILED BEHIND HIM. SANO WALKED TOWARD THE MOUND, GESTURED AT BOYD AND THEN EITHER PUNCHED OR SHOVED TIGERS CATCHER JAMES MCCANN.”
Regardless of the consequences, Boyd did what he felt was necessary to protect his teammates. No doubt earning him some respect in the Tigers clubhouse.
The bullpen stepped in and earned the win for the Tigers, 5-4
Well, the afternoon game between the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers is starting to heat up. In a possible retaliation to JaCoby Jones being hit by a pitch in the third inning, an errant throw from Matt Boyd grazed Twins slugger Miguel Sano in the fifth.
The pitch ended up passing behind Sano and the batter took exception to the pitch location and pointed a finger at Boyd. James McCann then stepped in to diffuse the situation. Sano responded with a push or punch of some kind and McCann did not back down to the 260 pounder. This cleared the benches and left the officiating staff with some conversations.
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The umpires eventually settled on game ejections for Sano and Boyd and warnings for both benches.
The highlight of the incident for me? Nicholas Castellanos rushing into the fray while removing his hat. Because we all know that it’s not good form to fight with a cap on. Ah…baseball.
Sano & Boyd ejected after Boyd pitched behind Sano pic.twitter.com/m21DxM5J9M
— Superdrunkmark69 (@cjzer0) April 22, 2017
The Boyd-Sano incident. pic.twitter.com/tvwKxNDUXM
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 22, 2017