MLB suspends three, fines four others
The St. Louis Cardinals completed a sweep of the Cincinnati Reds this week to take the lead in the NL Central, but the big story was the brawl in Tuesday’s game between the two teams.
Cincinnati’s Brandon Phillips had trash-talked the Cards before the series and during the game he tapped Cardinals’ catcher Yadier Molina with his bat. Molina didn’t take to it too kindly as he demanded Phillips not to touch him, remembering Phillips’ comments prior to the game. Molina got into Phillips’ face and soon, the players were shoving and as the benches cleared the teams’ hatred for one another in full display.
Reds’ pitcher Johnny Cueto kicked several Cardinals while being pushed up against the netting behind home plate. Cueto has been suspended for seven games by the league. He was the only player suspended, while both of the teams’ managers, Dusty Baker of the Reds and Tony La Russa of the Cardinals were each suspended two games.
The three were also fined for the incident, as well as four others; Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter and catcher Yadier Molina, and Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips and relief pitcher Russ Springer.
"We regret the incident happened. After a thorough investigation of the incident, MLB has handled the discipline accordingly for both clubs," Reds’ spokesman Rob Butcher read in a statement.
Cueto will begin his suspension on Friday, unless he appeals the ruling. By league rules, the two managers cannot appeal and will serve their suspensions on Friday and Saturday.
This fight will certainly be remembered in the teams’ next series, from 3 to 5 September, when they will meet again for the final time this season. Both teams have been at each other’s throats in the race to the pennant and their rivalry has now escalated in full throttle. The teams have not been shy to say how they feel about each other, but the rest of the season is about winning games and not fights. The Reds are trying to win their first NL Central title in 15 years, while the Cardinals are looking for their eighth in 11 years.
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