ARLINGTON, Texas _ The fallout from the Texas Rangers' complaints about Fernando Tatis Jr.'s 3-0 swing Monday night was swift, and so was the punishment for the pitch that followed.
Right-handed reliever Ian Gibaut was suspended three games for intentionally throwing behind with the first pitch to San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado after Tatis hit a grand slam.
As a result, Rangers manager Chris Woodward was suspended one game, a ban he was expected to serve Tuesday as the Rangers and Padres were scheduled to play again at Globe Life Field. Gibaut appealed his suspension and will be an active player until the appeal is reviewed.
The suspension for Woodward might be gentler than the beating he has taken since saying he felt Tatis broke one of baseball's unwritten rules by swinging at a 3-0 pitch with his team up seven runs in the eighth inning.
The grand slam made the score 14-4, which was the final.
Afterward, Woodward said he didn't like the swing on a 3-0 pitch, the outcome not withstanding. Fans, media and current and former players, including Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Reggie Jackson, blasted the idea that a player shouldn't swing on 3-0 with a big lead.
The Rangers should pitch better, many said.
On Tuesday, Woodward again said that the swing violated the unwritten rules he learned as a player, but also said he is open to hearing from the other side. He has no issues with Tatis, whom Woodward called the game's best player right now.
"I'm not pounding my fist on the table saying this was absolutely horrendous," Woodward said. "I just thought it went just past the line. But I don't know exactly what the lines are. It's always been blurred."
