Cabrera banned seven games
Yankees’ Sanchez suspended four games after brawls.
Two of baseball’s biggest hitters were suspended Friday after taking some menacing swings with their fists.
Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera was banned seven games and New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez got barred four games for their actions on a fightfilled Thursday afternoon at Comerica Park.
Also suspended were Tigers reliever Alex Wilson (four games), New York catcher Austin Romine (two games) and Detroit manager Brad Ausmus (one game). All four players were appealing and remain eligible until the process is complete.
Cabrera, who squared off with Romine at home plate in the most furious fight of the day, was annoyed that 6-foot-7, 282-pound Yankees rookie Aaron Judge was not punished. The two-time AL MVP said Judge and Sanchez tried to hit him while he was on the ground.
“There was a lot of people going after me over there and I got a suspension,” Cabrera said in Chicago. “I’m not surprised.”
Yankees reliever Dellin Betances, ejected after hitting James McCann in the helmet with a pitch, was not suspended or fined.
Detroit starter Michael Fulmer also avoided any punishment despite hitting Sanchez with a pitch after he homered off the right-hander.
Mets: All-Star right fielder Michael Conforto dislocated his left shoulder and sustained a tear while swinging at a pitch Thursday. Conforto was put on the disabled list Friday, with surgery a possibility. There is no timetable for his return.
Nationals: Right-hander Max Scherzer is still dealing with a sore neck and didn’t start Friday against the Mets. Manager Dusty Baker said Scherzer will throw a bullpen session and they hope to get him back in the rotation soon.
Rangers: Right-hander Tyson Ross (3-3, 7.04 ERA) was moved to the bullpen. Right-hander Nick Martinez takes his spot in the rotation.
Reds: Right-hander Homer Bailey is expected to make his next start Sunday against Pittsburgh. He left his start Tuesday after three innings because of discomfort in the back of his shoulder.
Phillies: Rhys Hoskins became just the third major leaguer ( joining Carlos Delgado and Trevor Story) to hit eight homers in his first 15 games. Hoskins matched Delgado and Trey Mancini for the most homers within a player’s first 50 career at-bats in major league history.