(AUDACY) The White Sox were without manager Tony La Russa on Saturday night after MLB announced it had suspended him one game after reliever Mike Wright hit Angels star Shohei Ohtani in the ninth inning Thursday afternoon.
Wright was suspended three games for the incident, although he's appealing the decision. La Russa was also fined an undisclosed amount.
Wright was pitching in the ninth inning of a game the White Sox were losing 9-3 when he nearly hit Ohtani in the second pitch of the at-bat. Two pitches later, he hit Ohtani in the leg with a fastball.
The umpires convened and decided to eject Wright for what they considered intentionally hitting the MVP candidate Ohtani. La Russa argued the ejection, which resulted in him being tossed as well.
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La Russa defended Wright after the game, denying that he was trying to hit Ohtani.
Angels manager Joe Maddon felt differently, claiming after the game it was "retaliatory" because a couple of White Sox players were hit by Angels earlier in the series.
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