Angels-Astros Umpires Disciplined

Umpire Fieldin Culbreth, the crew chief in Thursday night's game between the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park in Houston, has received a two-game suspension and a fine for the misapplication of Official Baseball Rule 3.05(b) in the top of the seventh inning, Major League Baseball announced today.

The other members of Culbreth's crew - Brian O'Nora, Bill Welke and Adrian Johnson - have received fines stemming from the same sequence of events.

Official Baseball Rule 3.05(b) states:

"If the pitcher is replaced, the substitute pitcher shall pitch to the batter then at bat, or any substitute batter, until such batter is put out or reaches first base, or until the offensive team is put out, unless the substitute pitcher sustains injury or illness which, in the umpire-in-chief's judgment, incapacitates him for further play as a pitcher."

Culbreth's two-game suspension will be served at a date to be determined by the Office of the Commissioner.