Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas suspended 5 games for intentionally hitting Cubs' Ian Happ
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas sent a message to Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ at the plate. It's going to cost him.
Michael Hill, MLB's Senior Vice President for On-Field Operations, announced Friday that Mikolas has been suspended five games and fined for intentionally hitting Happ during the Cardinals' 10-3 loss to the Cubs on Thursday night in St. Louis.
The incident happened in the top of the first inning. Happ swung through a slider from Mikolas and hit Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras in the head with his follow through. Contreras exited the game with a bleeding gash on his head and was replaced by catcher Andrew Knizner.
On the next pitch, Mikolas threw a four-seam fastball up and in on Happ that forced the Cubs outfielder to get out of the way. Then, Mikolas nailed Happ with a 94 mph fastball on his backside. Happ was awarded first base and Mikolas was ejected from the game after all four umpires consulted each other.
Mikolas only faced three batters on the night and received the loss. He is appealing his suspension.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol was also ejected from the game for arguing the call. The league handed him a one-game suspension and fine.
Crew chief Lance Barksdale said Mikolas was ejected because the hit-by-pitch was intentional.
“To a man, we all four, it was no doubt that was intentional,” Barksdale said. “And when it’s intentional, no matter where it hits him at, he’s ejected. Two pitches in, like I said, it’s pretty easy on our part.”
Mikolas said he was "a little surprised” by his ejection.
“I was waiting and they had a meeting and they decided to toss me," he said. "I throw inside to a lot of guys. The umpires can believe whatever they want to believe. They had a meeting and that was their choice. They believed intent was there and that’s all the reasoning umpires need.”
Contreras said he felt "fine" after the hit. He shared a hug with Happ, his former teammate, before exiting the field. The laceration on his scalp didn't require stitches, but needed glue to close the wound.
"I had a little headache after I got hit," he said. "I was kind of knocked out. I felt the backswing. I felt the blood and I knew it was bad. I didn’t want to get stitches. I want to make sure I'm ready to go tomorrow.”
Contreras added that Happ apologized: “We're very good friends. It's part of the game. It happens and it's over.”