Astros deny that assistant GM taunted female reporters

The Houston Astros denied a report Monday that assistant general manager Brandon Taubman taunted three female reporters after the team clinched the American League pennant Saturday night. According to a story by Sports Illustrated's Stephanie Apstein, Taubman repeatedly yelled at the female reporters regarding Houston closer Roberto Osuna, whom the Astros acquired last season while he was serving a 75-game suspension for allegedly assaulting a woman.

Apstein detailed the allegations after covering Game 6 of the AL Championship Series and heading to the raucous Houston locker room afterward. Minutes earlier, Osuna had given up a two-run homer in the ninth inning to blow a lead before the Astros beat the New York Yankees 6-4 on a two-run homer by Jose Altuve. According to Apstein, Taubman turned to three females, one of whom was wearing a purple bracelet for domestic violence awareness, and shouted: "Thank God we got Osuna! I'm so (expletive) glad we got Osuna!"

Apstein wrote that "the outburst was frightening and offensive enough that another Houston staffer apologized." The Astros quickly responded after the story was published Monday night, describing it as "misleading and completely irresponsible." But at least one male reporter who was in the clubhouse at the time said the report was accurate.

"The Astros called this (Sports Illustrated) report misleading," tweeted Hunter Atkins, a reporter with the Houston Chronicle. "It is not. I was there. Saw it. And I should've said something sooner." The Astros did not make Taubman available for an interview for the Sports Illustrated story. The team responded after the story was published.

"An Astros player was being asked questions about a difficult outing," the team said in a statement. "Our executive was supporting the player during a difficult time. His comments had everything to do about the game situation that just occurred and nothing else -- they were also not directed toward any specific reporters. We are extremely disappointed in Sports Illustrated's attempt to fabricate a story where one does not exist." At least one other journalist backed Sports Illustrated's account.

"Can confirm," tweeted Hannah Keyser of Yahoo Sports. The Houston Chronicle cited eyewitnesses who described Taubman as holding a cigar and standing with two or three other men when he screamed toward the group of women. No interviews were taking place at the time and no players were in the vicinity, the Chronicle reported, with about 8 feet separating the Astros official from the startled reporters.

The Astros are set to host the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night in Game 1 of the World Series. 

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)