Guthrie hurls ball into upper deck, offers (and delivers) retweet to recipient

Published May. 1, 2014 11:39 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- You don't see this everyday: Royals right-hander Jeremy Guthrie, after catching a line drive for the third out in the sixth inning, took a few steps toward the dugout and hurled the ball about five rows up into the upper deck behind the first-base dugout.

With a runner on second and two outs in the top of the sixth at Kauffman Stadium, Jose Reyes smashed a liner back at Guthrie. Guthrie's catch saved a run.

But it's possible Guthrie was still fuming about giving up a home run earlier in the inning to Toronto's Colby Rasmus, who came into the game hitting .194. That Rasmus homer gave the Jays a 4-3 lead. The Jays went on to win 7-3.

Guthrie said after the game he simply was frustrated.

"Our guys battled from a deficit, got the lead, I gave it back, we tied it, and I gave it back on the homer (to Rasmus)," Guthrie said. "It's frustrating.

"And I thought a fan upstairs deserved a ball. It's always the fans down below who get the balls. Someone up on the third deck, cheap tickets, they deserve a ball."

In 2009, Tigers pitcher Fernando Rodney fired a baseball into the press box at Tropicana Field in Tampa. Rodney was fined an undisclosed amount and suspended three games.

Guthrie said he is not concerned with any potential repercussions.

"Repercussions? I'm not totally concerned with that," Guthrie said. "I'm more concerned with repercussions from giving up two home runs.

"I view it a little differently (throwing it) toward a fan in the stands than the press box. I don't want to hit (Royals television announcers) Ryan Lefebvre or (Rex) Hudler. At least not tonight.

"I just wanted to give the fans something. If a fan (who caught it) wants to give me a tweet, I'll be more than happy to retweet it."

You can follow Jeffrey Flanagan on Twitter at @jflanagankc or email jeffreyflanagan6@gmail.com.

share