Ross Stripling issues an apology after letting his frustration get the best of him.
In the top of the sixth inning with a 2-1 lead over the New York Yankees, what appeared as a routine out at first for Jays third baseman Joe Panik turned into an ugly throwing error that sailed over Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s head. After the misplay, Stripling turned to Panik and showed some intense unsportsmanlike emotion.
After the game, Ross Stripling took some time out to speak to the media and issued an apology for his actions during the game.
“It’s the most disrespectful thing I’ve ever done — maybe ever. Certainly on a baseball field. I’m completely embarrassed about it. “I simply let the moment get too big for me. I saw when it kind of jammed [Giancarlo] Stanton and it was rolling, he didn’t run out of the box. If you’ve been watching him all year, he doesn’t really run down the line, and I’m just screaming at Joe, ‘he’s not running, he’s not running.’ And Joe, Gold Glover, tries to make an awesome play and the pay unravels, and I just completely show him up.
“I literally can’t explain it. Honestly, I’m mortified by it, I can’t stand that that’s the way it went. I apologized to Joe individually, I even addressed the team because I feel so bad about it. That can’t happen, that should never happen. It’ll never happen again from me, I can promise you that.
“Joe, the awesome veteran and person that he is, took it in stride and said no hard feelings. But you can’t do anything worse than that to a teammate and I feel terrible.”
Stripling, in his sixth MLB season, came to Toronto in a trade from the Dodgers last year. He has a 4.64 ERA across 11 appearances this season.
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