Suspensions for 8 in BucsReds melee

Pittsburgh pitcher Keone Kela was suspended for 10 games, Cincinnati reliever Amir Garrett for eight and nowCleveland outfielder Yasiel Puig for three for their roles in a brawl between the Pirates and Reds this week.

Major League Baseball issued eight suspensions Thursday, two days after the fight in Cincinnati.

Three players on each team were suspended, and all elected to appeal. They will be allowed to play until the process is complete.

Kela was penalized for throwing a pitch near the head of Derek Dietrich in the seventh inning and “for his role in instigating the benchclearing incident,” MLB ruled. Garrett was docked “for inciting the benchclearing incident by running to the area outside the Pirates’ dugout and throwing a punch” in the ninth.

Puig was suspended for his aggressive actions on what turned out to be his last day with the Reds. He was traded to the Indians on Tuesday.

“Things happen in the moment. You need to defend your teammates,” Puig said. “Off the field, we’re all friends.”

The Pirates’ Jose Osuna (five games) and Kyle Crick (three games), and the Reds’ Jared Hughes (three games), also received suspensions.

Additionally, Cincinnati manager David Bell — who returned to the field after he had been ejected — was suspended six games, and Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle was penalized two games.

“This comes down to, really, one of our guys, the ball was thrown at his head,” Bell said. “What were we supposed to do?

“If we don’t do anything, if we don’t protect ourselves, then their pitcher just gets away with throwing at one of our guys’ head.” Francona misses game: Cleveland manager Terry Francona was absent for his team’s game against Houston after having eye surgery.

The team said the operation was unexpected. Francona was expected to return Friday when the Indians host the Angels.

Bench coach Brad Mills served as manager for the finale of the threegame series. New role: Former pitcher Danny Farquhar, who suffered a brain hemorrhage in the White Sox dugout last season, has rejoined the team as DoubleA Birmingham’s pitching instructor.

Farquhar, 32, suffered a ruptured aneurysm April 20, 2018, and had emergency surgery. He attempted a comeback this season when the Yankees signed him to a minorleague deal but was released June 19. Injury report: Among players placed on the injured list were White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada (hamstring) and Tampa Bay second baseman Joey Wendle (wrist).