Blue Jays Colby Rasmus’ slide incites strong reaction from Tigers players

TORONTO – In a game that saw the benches and bullpens clear, emotions were riding high between the Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays.

In the fourth inning, Blue Jays outfielder Colby Rasmus slid hard into second base in an attempt to break up a double-play and in the process took out Tigers second baseman Omar Infante.

Infante was forced to leave the game. He suffered a shin contusion and will be re-evaluated on Thursday.

Following the Tigers’ 6-2 win, right fielder Torii Hunter and starting pitcher Max Scherzer voiced their displeasure with the aggressive nature of the slide. "I thought it was a dirty slide, simple as that," Hunter said.

Scherzer took it even a step further calling for supplemental discipline. "We're really mad about that slide, that's a very dirty play in my book. I feel like he should be suspended," Scherzer said.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons preferred to steer clear or getting into any specifics about the incident.

"I don't comment on those kind of things publicly, possibly controversial plays. That never does anything good. It can always inflame things so I'd rather not comment on those things," Gibbons said.

Rasmus contends it was just another baseball play by a hard-nosed player.

"I just treated it like any other time I'm on first base. I was coming in hard trying to break up the double-play," Rasmus said. "I didn't mean for nothing bad to happen but it's no different than any time I ever come in. Obviously they're going to be upset but that's just part of the game."

Later in the game, Blue Jays reliever Todd Redmond hit Hunter with a fastball up-and-in. Hunter took a few steps toward the mound to voice his displeasure and both benches cleared but no further action took place.

The final game of the four-game series is Thursday night. Justin Verlander starts for Detroit while Esmil Rogers gets the call for Toronto. Tigers manager Jim Leyland said following Wednesday's game that Miguel Cabrera will likely sit out due to a sore back.