The Red Sox' David Ortiz is suspended and fined for his tantrum in Anaheim, but his appeal will allow him to play in this weekend's series against the Yankees.

01:00 AM EDT on Friday, July 23, 2004

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Finally, the other shoe dropped.

Major League Baseball suspended David Ortiz yesterday for five games for his tantrum in Anaheim last Friday, when the Red Sox' first baseman/designated hitter heaved a couple of bats onto the field from the Boston dugout, barely missing an umpire.

He also reportedly was fined $4,000.

Ortiz appealed the ruling, meaning he will be eligible for this weekend's three-game series against the Yankees, which opens tonight at Fenway Park.

Ortiz became enraged after getting called out on strikes by umpire Matt Hollowell. Boston manager Terry Francona hustled to get between Ortiz and Hollowell as the argument escalated.

It was the bat-throwing that prompted Bob Watson, vice president of MLB's on-field operations, to issue the suspension.

Ortiz accepted responsibility for his actions, but thought the punishment was a little harsh.

"I knew a suspension would come, but I didn't know how many games," he said.

"You always learn things from these situations. We're not in the best situation for me to miss five games," said Ortiz, who entered last night's game second in the league in RBI. "You need to keep your composure. You need to (realize umpires) are human. I'm human. They makes mistakes. I make mistakes. When you react, then the punishment is going to be there."

The appeal is expected to be heard by Bob DuPuy, MLB's president. The Sox are hoping to slice a game or two off the suspension. They also would like to time the hearing of the appeal and the suspension itself to Aug. 2-8, when the team is likely to face left-handed starting pitchers in Tampa and Detroit. Presumably, the Sox would miss Ortiz, a left-handed hitter, less against lefties.

The news was handed down a short time after Ortiz had established a career high by smacking two triples in a game, off Baltimore's Rodrigo Lopez in the opener yesterday.

Coming into this season, Ortiz had racked up five triples in 1,925 career at-bats, including a pair last season. The two triples yesterday gave him three this season, a career high, in a five-game span. Ortiz is tied with Nomar Garciaparra for the team lead with three.

It was the Sox' first two-triple game since Johnny Damon accomplished the feat on May 19, 2003.

Sean McAdam contributed to this report.