Tiger Coach, Player Get Suspended

Detroit Tiger coach Rick Adair was suspended for three games and outfielder Bobby Higginson for two for their roles in a postgame confrontation with umpires on Sunday.

American League president Gene Budig, who issued the suspensions Wednesday, said they would take effect Friday. The penalties would be delayed if Adair and Higginson appeal. Detroit lost Sunday’s game, 5-4, in 15 innings.

The Tigers were upset with some of the calls by plate umpire Mike Everitt. After the game, Adair and Higginson argued with different members of the umpiring crew in the tunnel behind the dugout.

“What upsets me the most is that a coach should be trying to ease the situation, not throw gas on it,” said Larry Barnett, the umpire-in-chief of Sunday’s crew. “It’s the worst situation I’ve had in a runway in my 29 years as an umpire.”

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Nomar Garciaparra’s got an RBI in Boston’s 5-2 victory over the New York Yankees, giving him 88 and extending his major-league record for leadoff hitters. His two RBIs in Tuesday’s 8-6 loss to the Yankees broke a tie with Detroit’s Harvey Kuenn, who had 85 in 1956.