Qualls to serve suspension for throwing ball in stands

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print

WASHINGTON -- Houston Astros reliever Chad Qualls lost his appeal of a three-game suspension and $3,000 fine for throwing a baseball into the stands and will sit out starting Tuesday.

Qualls

Qualls' punishment originally was handed down by Major League Baseball on June 20, two days after he allowed five runs in a loss to the Los Angeles Angels and, after making a putout at first base, tossed the ball into the seats.

He appealed that ruling, and a decision didn't come until Monday.

"I'm pretty disappointed that it didn't get reduced. I thought it would get reduced at least a little bit," Qualls said. "I'm definitely glad that everything is finalized. ... I learned my lesson."

He put a box atop the TV in the visitors' clubhouse at RFK Stadium labeled "Qualls' Suspension Box -- Donations Appreciated."

The right-hander is 5-3 with two saves and a 3.86 ERA in 46 appearances this season.

Manager Phil Garner said before Monday night's game at the Washington Nationals that Qualls probably would be used Monday, before beginning to serve the suspension. The reliever will miss the last two games of Houston's series at Washington, and then Friday's opener at Pittsburgh.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print
• Subscribe