SEATTLE -- Tigers All-Star catcher Ivan Rodriguez received a one-game suspension and a fine from Major League Baseball for making contact with umpire Mike Winters in an argument Thursday against the Mariners at Seattle.

The contact occurred while an animated Rodriguez was trying to argue for an interference call on Adrian Beltre's stolen base in the fourth inning. Rodriguez tried to argue that Mariners batter Yuniesky Betancourt had leaned over the plate and affected his throw, which sailed into center field and allowed Beltre to take third.

Rodriguez was promptly ejected following the perceived contact. Mike Rabelo caught the rest of the game in his place.

"If I did [bump him], I just did it barely," Rodriguez said on Thursday. "I didn't do that on purpose. There was no reason to take me out of the game there."

Intentional or otherwise, contact with an umpire is usually grounds for discipline. A one-game suspension, however, basically amounts to a day off for Rodriguez, who played in Tuesday's All-Star Game and might have had a day off coming anyway during this four-game weekend series. He can either serve the suspension immediately on Saturday night or file an appeal, which would allow him time to pick another day to sit out, unless he wanted a hearing with MLB vice president for on-field operations Bob Watson.

Rabelo, who has caught 23 games this season, would start in his place.