Only one suspended for brawl

Times wires
Monday, August 8, 2011

SAN FRANCISCO — Phillies CF Shane Victorino is appealing a three-game suspension imposed Monday for his part in a brawl Friday at San Francisco.

Two Giants players who expected one-game suspensions only received fines after playing key roles in the benches-clearing brawl between NL division leaders. Nobody was injured.

Major League Baseball also fined Victorino an undisclosed amount. Phillies 3B Placido Polanco and Giants RHP Ramon Ramirez and C Eli Whiteside were fined as well. Victorino, Ramirez and Whiteside were ejected.

"Victorino's aggressive actions prolonged the bench-clearing incident between the Clubs," the commissioner's office said in announcing the penalties.

Victorino can continue to play until the appeal process is complete.

Philadelphia was eliminated by San Francisco in six games last fall in the NL Championship Series. The Giants went on to win the franchise's first World Series title since moving West in 1958.

"I thought it was well done," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of MLB's decisions. "And I'm not saying that because we didn't have any suspensions. It was pretty clean out there."

In other Giants news, RF Carlos Beltran was out of the lineup with an injured right hand and is day to day.

SLOWER, SLOWEST: The Red Sox and Yankees have been hearing complaints for years that their games take far too long.

After their latest marathon Sunday night, Boston manager Terry Francona said he wouldn't be surprised to hear from Major League Baseball again. The Red Sox beat New York 3-2 in 10 innings in a game clocked at 4:15.

"We'll probably get a letter, which I understand," Francona said. "It makes sense. They want to get it going and I understand that."

In other Red Sox news, RH reliever Bobby Jenks was hospitalized with what Francona described as "intestinal turmoil" and had a colonoscopy.

PROGRESS FOR A-ROD: Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez stepped up his workouts while recovering from knee surgery, though there's still no timetable for his return. Rodriguez took part in a situational hitting drill during a 57-pitch batting practice session in Tampa.

TIGERS DUO REWARDED: Detroit extended manager Jim Leyland's contract through the 2012 season, and general manager Dave Dombrowski agreed to a four-year extension through 2015. Both contracts were set to expire after this season, but with the Tigers in first place, owner Mike Ilitch decided the time was right to work out new deals.

AILING METS: New York put SS Jose Reyes on the disabled list for the second time this season with stiffness in his left hamstring. INF Daniel Murphy is likely out for the season with a knee injury.

CARDINALS: 3B David Freese, who suffered a mild concussion when he was beaned Thursday, was cleared to return to game action tonight.

INDIANS: RHP Carlos Carrasco went on the disabled list with right elbow inflammation, temporarily voiding his six-game suspension.

MARINERS: SS Brendan Ryan went on the 15-day disabled list with a left shoulder injury. INF Luis Rodriguez was called up from Triple-A Tacoma.

MARLINS: LF Logan Morrison sat out after needing five stitches in his right knee following a collision with teammate Emilio Bonifacio.

ORIOLES: INF Cesar Izturis went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left groin. RHP Jason Berken was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk.

PADRES: 3B Chase Headley went on the 15-day disabled list with a broken left pinkie.

RANGERS: LH reliever Arthur Rhodes was placed on release waivers and will become a free agent on Wednesday.

REDS: 3B Scott Rolen said his left shoulder feels much better after Wednesday's surgery to clean it out, but his return is still unclear.

ROCKIES: RHP Kevin Millwood, who opted out of a minor-league contract with the Red Sox over the weekend, signed and might start Wednesday's game.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/only-one-suspended-for-brawl/1184976

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