Angels' Ramirez suspended for drilling Marisnick

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Angels pitcher Noe Ramirez was suspended three games and fined an undisclosed amount for throwing a pitch in the area of Houston outfielder Jake Marisnick's head, and Los Angeles manager Brad Ausmus was suspended a game and fined.

Joe Torre, chief baseball officer for Major League Baseball, announced the penalties Wednesday, one day after Ramirez drilled Marisnick between the shoulder blades with a 1-1 pitch in the sixth inning of the Angels' 7-2 home victory.

Ramirez said he will appeal the suspension. Bench coach Josh Paul managed the Angels' 11-2 loss to the Astros on Wednesday while Ausmus served his suspension.

Ausmus said he thought his suspension was unnecessary but that since MLB thought Ramirez committed an egregious offense, he should be penalized, too.

"I thought three games for Noe was a little bit steep, but he still has the appeals process to go through," Ausmus said.

Angels shortstopAndrelton Simmonswas less reserved in his assessment of the suspension.

"I think it's bull----," Simmons told reporters Wednesday. "People get hit all the time. (Ramirez) can't make one mistake I guess? Just because of the perception? So if Marisnick got hit at any point throughout the season (by the Angels), whoever touched him was going to get suspended? Is that what it means?"

Marisnick was playing his first game against Los Angeles since his violent home plate collision with catcher Jonathan Lucroy.

Marisnick ran over Lucroy while trying to score in Houston on July 7, leaving Lucroy with a concussion and a broken nose. He's out for at least three more weeks after having surgery on his broken nose Tuesday.

Astros manager AJ Hinch said he expected Torre's office to step in after Tuesday's incident. He said he hopes both teams consider the matter closed.

"My reaction is really that it should be over and settled and done with," he said. "I think we will all be better served letting MLB be MLB and let us play the game on the field and get away from this issue."

Marisnick, a native of nearby Riverside, is currently appealing his two-game suspension for the collision. He said he hasn't heard from MLB about when his appeal will be and echoed Hinch's comments about hoping that both teams can move forward.

On Wednesday, Marisnick went 3-for-4 with two runs scored in the Astros' win. Ramirez did not pitch in the game.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.