HOUSTON – If Adolis Garcia had simply winced, tossed his bat aside and taken his base, Bryan Abreu might still be eligible to pitch in the American League Championship Series.

Instead, Garcia, the Texas Rangers slugger, got in the face of Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado, inciting a benches-clearing incident that resulted in Abreu’s ejection from Game 5 of the ALCS.

Saturday, Abreu learned he’d be suspended for the remainder of the series.

Major League Baseball suspended Abreu for two games, agreeing with the umpiring crew that Abreu threw intentionally at Garcia and taking “into account the dangerous nature of the pitch and its potential impact on player safety.”

Abreu can appeal the suspension and is expected to do so. If the suspension is upheld, Abreu would miss Sunday’s Game 6 and a potential Game 7 – or be out for Game 1 of the World Series. The Astros lead the ALCS 3-2 and can clinch the AL pennant at Minute Maid Park on Sunday.

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Inactive players Lance McCullers and Matt Bush have also been barred from the dugout during games because they left the bench during the incident.

Abreu’s loss is significant for the Astros. He is perhaps their most dominant reliever and typically works the seventh or eighth inning setting up closer Ryan Pressly. Abreu struck out 100 batters in 72 innings and recorded a 1.75 ERA. 

Friday’s Game 5 incident occurred after Garcia hit a go-ahead three-run homer off starter Justin Verlander and punctuated it with a bat spike and a deliberate walk down the first base line. Garcia, Maldonado and Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien were also involved in a fracas during a July game.

But the Astros were adamant that Abreu would not intentionally hit Garcia in a playoff game, especially as they trailed 4-2 in the eighth inning of a pivotal game. An inning later, Jose Altuve hit a three-run homer to give the Astros a 5-4 victory.

“I’m the kind of guy, I don’t care about celebrations. That was a big, big moment for him. He got the chance to celebrate, do whatever he wants,” Abreu said after Game 5. "I know that was a really hot moment. OK, I get it. But obviously, you’ve got to give me a warning or something. We’re just trying to compete.

“I didn’t do anything wrong. It meant a lot to me.”

And Garcia obviously inflamed the situation, earning an ejection himself after he jawed at Maldonado and forced home plate umpire Marvin Hudson to wedge himself between them. 

Astros manager Dusty Baker, who was also ejected from Game 5 after angrily reacting to Abreu’s dismissal, says he expects tensions may remain high in Sunday’s Game 6. How that manifests, he does not know.

“The players don't want to get into fights and skirmishes. And most of these guys know each other,” Baker said Saturday at Minute Maid Park. “Especially Latin guys are closer than anybody. But when emotions get high – have you ever gotten in an argument with your mom or your dad or your brothers?

“It happens. And you don't script it. It's a spontaneous, combustible reaction that gets out of control.”