Injury-plagued pitcher Hideki Irabu was handed a seven-day suspension by the Montreal Expos for going on a drinking spree the day before his scheduled start in the minor leagues, his agent Don Nomura said Thursday.
Irabu, who is currently going through a rehabilitation stint with Triple-A Ottawa, was taken to a hospital by ambulance Sunday after becoming ill through drinking 24 hours before he was set to take to the mound.
According to Nomura, although Irabu had sufficiently recovered in time for the game, Expos officials deemed him unfit to play, handing the former Chiba Lotte Marines star the suspension Wednesday for failing to respect the terms of his contract.
Nomura indicated he would appeal against the club's decision to cut Irabu's pay at a players' association meeting.
The suspension is the latest in a series of blows in Irabu's career with the Expos.