MLB issues 8 suspensions after Reds-Pirates brawl
Pittsburgh pitcher Keone Kela was suspended for 10 games, wild-swinging Cincinnati reliever Amir Garrett for eight and outfielder 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, and all elected to appeal. They will be allowed to play until the process is complete.
Reds manager David Bell was suspended six games, starting Thursday night when Cincinnati visited Atlanta. Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle was penalized two games, to begin tonight when the Pirates play the New York Mets.
Puig was suspended for his aggressive actions on what turned out to be his last day with the Reds. He was later traded to Cleveland.
“Things happen in the moment. You need to defend your teammates,” Puig said. “Off the field, we’re all friends.”
Pirates infielder José Osuna was suspended five games while Pittsburgh pitcher Kyle Crick and Reds pitcher Jared Hughes each got three.
Bell and the Reds became enraged after Kela threw near Derek Dietrich’s head in the late innings. These NL Central rivals have a history of run-ins that included a fracas in April at PNC Park that began after Dietrich stood at the plate to admire a home run — the Pirates have thrown close to him since then.
“This comes down to, really, one of our guys, the ball was thrown at his head. What were we supposed to do? If we don’t, I can’t live without doing anything to protect one of our guys. It’s that simple,” Bell said.
Bell said he hopes the suspended Reds have their penalties reduced. He disagreed with the length of his ban.
“I didn’t have a say. I didn’t talk to anyone. I want to be in the dugout,” he said. “We’ll be fine, but I have a responsibility to be in the dugout, so that part, I’m remorseful. It’s my job.”
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 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.
“Everyone on the field should be aware of the example they are setting for fans, particularly young people. I firmly expect these two managers and all others to hold their players accountable for appropriate conduct and to guide them in the right direction,” he said.
Kela was penalized for throwing a pitch near the head of Dietrich and “for his role in instigating the bench- clearing incident.”
Garrett was docked for “inciting the bench-clearing incident by running to the area outside the Pirates dugout and throwing a punch” in the ninth inning. Hughes was suspended for throwing a pitch at Starling Marte.
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