Astros' Bryan Abreu facing 2-game suspension for plunking Adolis Garcia - ESPN

HOUSTON — Houston Astros relief pitcher Bryan Abreu has been handed a two-game suspension in the wake of his controversial hit by pitch of Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia, which sparked a benches-clearing incident and a near-brawl in the late stages of Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Friday night.

Major League Baseball noted in its news release that «all six of the major league umpires deemed Abreu's pitch to have been intentional» in ejecting him from the game, adding that the league «took into account the dangerous nature of the pitch and its potential impact on player safety» in doling out the suspension.

The announcement — made by MLB senior vice president of on-field operations Michael Hill — asserted that Abreu was suspended for «intentionally throwing at» Garcia, a notion several members of the Astros denied in the wake of Houston's come-from-behind victory in Game 5, including Abreu himself.

«My plan for him was just to try to get the ball up and in,» Abreu said after the game. «That's my plan with him — up and in, and slider down and away. I just missed the pitch and he just overreacted.»

Abreu, the Astros' primary setup man, would be unavailable for Game 6 of the ALCS and either Game 7 of that series or Game 1 of the World Series; the Astros, after sweeping all three games in Arlington, Texas, hold a 3-2 advantage over the Rangers. If Abreu elects to appeal, discipline would be on hold while the process plays out.

The collective bargaining agreement states that hearings involving a suspension in the playoffs must be heard within 48 hours of a player deciding to appeal. In this case, Abreu could wait until before Game 6 to state that he wants to appeal, then theoretically be available