Nationals fine pitcher Ohka

NOTES

Pitcher Tomo Ohka was fined by the Washington Nationals on Sunday for showing disrespect to manager Frank Robinson while being removed from the game the night before.

Ohka turned his back to Robinson as the manager walked to the mound in the fourth inning of Saturday night’s 7-3 victory over the Florida Marlins. Robinson then had to grab the ball out of Ohka’s hand to make the pitching change.

“He was disrespectful to me,” Robinson said before Sunday’s game against the Marlins. “He had his back to me. I put my hand out for the ball, and he didn’t give it to me.”

In a statement, team president Tony Tavares and general manager Jim Bowden said the fine was for “contempt” directed toward the manager. The amount of the fine was not disclosed.

Earlier Sunday, Robinson said he doesn’t think baseball will come down hard on Marlon Byrd for a collision that knocked an umpire to the ground.

Joe Brinkman was flung on his back as he tried to stop Byrd from charging fellow umpire Bill Miller at the end of the sixth inning against the Marlins on Saturday night. Miller had just ejected Byrd for arguing a check-swing third strike.

“If it is a suspension, I don’t look at it as being a lengthy suspension,” Robinson said before Sunday’s game against the Marlins. “He didn’t attack the umpire.”

The Nationals expect to hear today how Byrd will be disciplined.

Clearing the bases

Braves third baseman Chipper Jones reinjured his left foot while batting in the eighth inning in Pittsburgh and will miss at least one game and likely more. Jones was pushing off his left foot after grounding to second base but couldn’t get out of the batter’s box. He had to be assisted off the field by manager Bobby Cox and a trainer. … The Twins made another change to their infield, sending Terry Tiffee back to Triple-A Rochester and calling up Glenn Williams after their game against the Yankees.

Associated Press