| Dusty sure has his hands full here.(Getty Images) |
Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco has been suspended for three games and fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball for making contact with umpire Chad Fairchild during a confrontation between the two earlier this week.
Monday, in the top of the third inning of the Reds-Padres game, Mesoraco got into a heated exchange with Fairchild, during which Mesoraco's finger and some of his hand made contact with Fairchild's chest. The Reds' backstop had issues with Fairchild's strike zone and appeared to say something along the lines of "how many strikes are you gonna miss?" Once contact was made, you can clearly see Fairchild say "you just touched me."
The video:
The suspension was set to begin immediately, but Mesoraco has elected to appeal it (via John Fay). The Reds face the Padres Wednesday night and then close the four-game set with them Thursday afternoon. This weekend brings a huge three-game series against the Pirates before the Reds head off to Milwaukee and Chicago (Cubs) on a seven game road trip.
Mesoraco, 24, is hitting .221/.299/.379 with five homers, 14 RBI, 15 runs and seven doubles in 157 plate appearances this season. He's thrown out 10 of 41 attempted base-stealers from behind the plate.
Later Wednesday, the Reds placed him on the 7-day concussion disabled list and called up Dioner Navarro.
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