Darvish says Gurriel deserves punishment for 'disrespectful' gesture

Los Angeles Dodgers starter Yu Darvish said Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel deserves to be punished for the "disrespectful" gesture he made after taking him deep Friday in Game 3 of the World Series, according to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.

After returning to the dugout following his leadoff solo shot in the second inning at Minute Maid Park, Gurriel appeared to mock Darvish, an Osaka, Japan native, by pulling at the sides of his eyes.

“Nobody’s perfect, and everybody’s different,” Darvish said, per Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram. “We all make mistakes. We’re all human beings. That’s what I’m saying. We’ve just got to learn from it and we’ve got to go forward.”

He added: “Houston has Asian fans and Japanese fans, and there are Asians all over the place. Acting like that is disrespectful to people all over the world. To the Houston organization, it’s just not a nice thing.”

Darvish tweeted a statement early Saturday morning:

Commissioner Rob Manfred is expected to meet with Gurriel ahead of Saturday's Game 4, according to Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times, and he will then decide if Gurriel is to be disciplined.

Gurriel, who finished 2-for-5 with a homer and a double in the 5-3 victory, is 18-for-53 (.340) with eight extra-base hits and five RBIs this postseason.