Brawl leads to 8 suspensions
NEW YORK — Pirates pitcher Keone Kela was suspended 10 games, Reds reliever Amir Garrett for eight and Yasiel Puig for three after a furious brawl between the Pirates and Reds.
Major League Baseball issued eight suspensions Thursday, two days after the fight at Great American Ball Park.
Three players on each team were suspended. All chose to appeal. They will can play until the process is complete.
Reds manager David Bell was suspended six games, starting Thursday with his team’s game against the Braves. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle was penalized two games, to begin Friday against Mets.
Puig was suspended for his aggressive actions on what turned out to be his last day with the Reds.
Pirates infielder Jose Osuna was suspended five games, while Pirates pitcher Kyle Crick and Reds pitcher Jared Hughes each got three.
All of the suspended players were fined undisclosed amounts. Pirates pitcher Trevor Williams, Reds first baseman Joey Votto and Reds outfielder Phillip Ervin also were fined, as were several players on both teams for taking part in the brawl while on the injured list.
The NL Central rivals have a history of run-ins that included a fracas in April.
“The incidents between these two clubs remain a source of concern, and it’s reflected by the level of discipline we are handing down today,” MLB Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre said.
The Reds and Pirates next play Aug. 23 in Pittsburgh — that game, incidentally, was already billed as fireworks night.
Marlins: Newly acquired Twins reliever Sam Dyson blew a three-run lead in the ninth, then Harold Ramirez hit a leadoff HR in the 12th that sent the host Marlins over the Twins 5-4. Ramirez also doubled home a run in the second. Dyson, who had a 2.47 ERA in 49 games for the Giants before Wednesday’s trade, faced four batters and didn’t retire any of them. He allowed two walks and two hits before being pulled.
Athletics: Matt Chapman hit a two-run HR off struggling closer Josh Hader in the eighth to break out of a long slump and lift the A’s over the visiting Brewers 5-3. Chapman had one hit and 13 strikeouts in his previous 30 at-bats. It was third blown save and 11th HR allowed by Hader (1-5), who has a 5.40 ERA and five homers allowed in 11 appearances since July 1. Chad Pinder also went deep and Mark Canha added three hits to help the A’s win their fourth in five games. Christian Yelich doubled to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 19 games for the Brewers, matching the longest streak in the majors this season.
Phillies: J.T. Realmuto hit a three-run HR and fell a triple shy of the cycle, Cesar Hernandez and Roman Quinn also went deep, and the host Phillies beat the Giants 10-2. Jake Arrieta pitched two-hit ball into the fifth. He allowed two runs — one earned — and four hits, striking out five in four-plus innings. Jose Alvarez (2-2) and three relievers tossed five scoreless innings. Giants starter Dereck Rodriguez (4-6) gave up seven runs — four earned — and eight hits in three innings.
Mets: Zack Wheeler tossed seven innings of four-hit ball, Robinson Cano drove in two runs with a HR and double, and the visiting Mets beat the White Sox 4-0 for their seventh straight win. Wilson Ramos also drove in a run as the Mets completed a three-game sweep and won their 13th of 17 overall. It’s the Mets’ longest winning streak since a ninegame run in early April 2018. The White Sox lost for the eighth time in nine games and are 4-16 since the All-Star break. Wheeler (8-6) retired the first 11 hitters before Jose Abreu singled off shortstop Amed Rosario’s glove with two outs in the fourth.
Indians: Manager Terry Francona was forced to miss the Indians’ game against the visiting Astrors after having eye surgery earlier in the day. The Indians 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 series finale. Mills also filled in for Francona two years ago when the former Red Sox and Phillies skipper underwent a midseason heart procedure. Francona, 60, had his pregame news conference canceled shortly before it was scheduled to begin. The team then announced the procedure. Francona is in his seventh season with the Indians. He has a 1,637-1,384 career record and is the secondwinningest active manager behind the Giants’ Bruce Bochy, who’s retiring at the end of the season.