MILWAUKEE _ If you're wondering why the Cardinals' Yadier Molina didn't receive an inspection Thursday, it's because there are no rules specifically governing catchers who intentionally doctor a baseball.
According to Major League Rule, Rule 3.01 prohibits any player from "intentionally discolor(ing) or damage(ing) the ball by rubbing it with soil, rosin, paraffin, licorice, sand-paper, emery paper or other foreign substance."
The rule also states that "any player found to have done so shall be ejected and suspended for 10 games." However, having "on his person, or in his possession, any foreign substance" is only a violation for the pitcher _ not a catcher or the other seven defenders.
In Molina's case, Brett Cecil's third strike bounced and stuck on the front of the chest protector of Molina, who didn't discover where the ball was until pinch-hitter Matt Szczur arrived at first base on a wild pitch.
The Cubs went on to win 6-4 on Kyle Schwarber's three-run home run in the seventh, moments after Molina's mishap.
Molina denied to reporters that he used any kind of sticky substance and didn't know how the ball stuck on his chest protector.
