HOUSTON – Los Angeles Angels catcher Jonathan Lucroy was carted off the field Sunday after a violent collision at the plate with Houston's Jake Marisnick, and manager Brad Ausmus thinks the league should consider suspending the Astros outfielder.
"It certainly didn't look like a clean play," Ausmus said after the Angels lost 11-10 in the 10th inning.
The bases were loaded with the score tied 10-10 in the eighth inning when Marisnick attempted to score on a sacrifice fly by George Springer.
Marisnick crashed into Lucroy as he attempted to field the throw, and the catcher immediately fell on his back. He didn't move for a few seconds before struggling to sit up. Marisnick tagged home and then leaned over Lucroy to see if he was OK. He lifted his head off the ground a few seconds later as blood dripped from his nose.
Marisnick was called out for colliding with Lucroy. The call was upheld after a crew chief review, ending the inning.
"I don't know what actually happened, but it looked like Marisnick took a step to the left and bowled into him with his arm up," Ausmus said. "The call was right. Really, I think Major League Baseball should probably take a look at it. Consider some type of suspension, quite frankly."
The Angels said Lucroy was taken to a hospital for a CT scan and is being evaluated for a possible concussion and nose fracture.
Marisnick said he was trying to slide headfirst on the inside corner. "I watched the play again and it looks — he just drops right in front of me and once I kind of made a decision, it was too late," he said. "It was a bad play and I hope he's OK."
