After the drama that led to the benches being cleared on Wednesday, a Mariners reliever faced the consequences. Roughly two hours before Thursday’s first pitch, MLB announced a three-game suspension along with a fine for the Mariners’ $2.1 million reliever for plunking the Detroit Tigers’ second baseman during Wednesday’s benches-clearing incident.

“Gabe Speier has been suspended three games and fined an undisclosed amount after intentionally throwing at Gleyber Torres. Mariners manager Dan Wilson has received a one-game suspension,” reported Talkin’ Baseball.

On the surface, it looked like just another hit-by-pitch in a game that had already seen plenty of them. In the top of the eighth, Gabe Speier relieved Bryan Woo with Seattle leading 3-0. After retiring the first two hitters, Speier threw two straight fastballs inside to Gleyber Torres. The second one hit him on the left leg, after which hell broke loose.

Torres then exchanged words with Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, prompting both benches and bullpens to clear, and Speier and manager Dan Wilson to be ejected. But this story doesn’t really start or end here. To truly understand why Speier went after Torres, you have to go back to the start of the chain. 

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The Tigers had already been hit three times by Bryan Woo before Speier even entered the game. Rookie Max Clark took a 96-mph ball off his elbow guard in the third inning, Riley Greene was hit in the fourth and Zach McKinstry took a pitch off his foot in the fifth. 

McKinstry was initially not awarded first base, but a replay review showed that the ball had grazed the front of his foot. Three Tiger hitters had now been hit, but the game kept on moving with Seattle still holding the lead. Then the Mariners finally found themselves on the receiving end of one.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Tigers’ Emmanuel de Jesus hit Raleigh with a 95 mph fastball, and it struck him in the stomach. One inning later, Speier was on the mound with Torres at the plate when all the frustrations boiled over.

Given the sequence of events, MLB must have decided that it was intentional and gave Speier the punishment.  Torres in fact, believed that this is why what had happened, happened.

“I guess they protected Raleigh,” Torres said. “I don’t think we hit Raleigh on purpose. But that’s baseball. That’s their guy and I know they try to protect him.”

Now, Speier’s punishment is on hold as he challenges the ruling; managers are not allowed to do the same.

Why Speier wasn’t the only one punished.

Dan Wilson also received a one-game suspension. On Thursday, Wilson had to endure watching his team’s blowout defeat from his office. Bench coach Manny Acta served as the manager during Wilson’s absence.

“I’ve never been suspended before,” Wilson told the Seattle Times. “This is definitely a first, but it’s what the rule is, and not that I agree with it, but that’s where we are.”

Under MLB’s Official Baseball Rule 6.02(c)(9), if an umpire determines that a pitcher intentionally threw at a batter, the umpire may eject the pitcher or both the pitcher and manager, or issue a warning that another such pitch will lead to immediate ejection. The rule does not mandate a specific suspension length, leaving MLB to determine any additional fines or suspensions on a case-by-case basis.

After Speier and Wilson were ejected, the manager said, “It’s always frustrating when your guy’s the guy that gets thrown out. I think their guy hits somebody and there’s no consequences.”

The Mariners had a chance to snatch the series on Thursday. But without their manager in the dugout, they fell 11-0 to the Tigers. Bench coach Manny Acta replaced Wilson for the day.

Gabe Speier’s absence could leave the Mariners short-handed

The problem for Seattle is that Speier isn’t just another bullpen arm. He is someone the Mariners trust in high-leverage situations, so losing him for three games could force the rest of the bullpen to shuffle.

There is José A. Ferrer and Josh Simpson, who are the other active left-handed relievers, making Ferrer an obvious choice to take on some of Speier’s work. This could in turn push Simpson into bigger situations, while Eduard Bazardo may have to shoulder more innings despite his recent struggles with the home run ball.

Sure, the Mariners can survive three games without Speier, but they will need their starters to work deep and their offense to provide some breathing room. One early exit or an extra-inning game could put more pressure on a bullpen that is lacking their key piece. 

In the end though, Speier may have been protecting his teammate at the moment, but the team might have to eventually pay the baseball cost for that decision.