ST. PETERSBURG -- Royals designated hitter Kendrys Morales has been suspended one game and fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball after arguing with home-plate umpire Carlos Torres during Tuesday night's 3-2 win over the Rays.
Morales appealed the suspension, so he was in the lineup for Thursday's 3-2 loss in the series finale at Tropicana Field.
Morales had been called out on a 3-2 pitch in the seventh inning on Tuesday on a pitch that appeared to be outside. Morales struck out again in the ninth and was ejected from the game after arguing with Torres from the dugout.
"In the seventh inning, I struck out with what I thought was a ball," Morales said through interpreter Pedro Grifol. "I came back [in the clubhouse] and I saw [the replay]. In the ninth inning, I let him know that the pitch I got called out on was a ball. I was very cordial and respectful. Just told him it was a ball.
"In that same at-bat [in the ninth], another pitch was called a strike that was a ball. When I went back and saw [the replay], I went back out and said something."
That's when Morales got tossed. He said he doesn't understand why.
"[The umpire] made two mistakes and I don't understand why that's my fault," Morales said. "That's the way it is."