Houston.Astros.MLB.com

By Alyson Footer / MLB.com

Roy Oswalt will be fined, but not suspended, for his actions on Sunday. (Ronald Martinez/AP)

Oswalt was ejected from the game in the third inning after hitting Michael Barrett with a pitch following Aramis Ramirez's three-run homer. Oswalt contended that the plunking was not intentional.

"I think it's good because it's coming down to the end of the season and (Watson) realized we're trying to make a run right here toward the end," Oswalt told KRIV-TV following the Astros' 7-4 win over the Phillies Wednesday. "I guess he saw both sides of the game and made his decision from that. The good thing about that is he's not for one or the other. He tries to see it as fair as he can."

In the moments following the Astros' loss to the Cubs Sunday, Oswalt expressed disappointment that Chicago right-hander Kerry Wood was not ejected from the game until he had hit his third batter. Oswalt was thrown out without a warning after hitting Barrett.

Astros management was glad when it learned of Watson's ruling.

"I'm delighted to hear that," manager Phil Garner said. "I'm glad to hear that. Of course it's good news for us. In today's game, it's tough to know what's going to happen."

"I thought it was a classy move on Bob's part," general manager Gerry Hunsicker said. "To be honest with you, this whole issue of retaliation and what the Commissioner's Office has done in giving the flexibility to the umpires is a concern. Whether Roy deliberately hit (Barrett) or not to me wasn't the issue. The bigger issue is that the umpires should be doing everything they can to keep people in the games. That's what the fans come to see."

Alyson Footer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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