Suspensions levied for the fracas in Cincinnati

MLB has announced suspensions and fines in the wake of the bench clearing melee in Cincinnati on Saturday night that was instigated by a high and tight pitch from reliever Keone Kela to the Reds’ Derek Dietrich, the latest incident amongst a series since the beginning of the season.

Tuesday night’s events started with the pitch from Kela which drew a warning from the umpire to both benches, but otherwise did not interrupt the game. Two innings later Cincinnati pitcher Jared Hughes hit Starling Marte with a pitch, resulting in the ejections of both Hughes and Reds’ manager David Bell. Amir Garrett, who had in April challenged the Pirates after an earlier incident where Chris Archer threw behind Dietrich’s back, entered the game as the Reds’ new pitcher, but after reportedly telling the first batter he faced, Josh Bell, “F—- you” apparently started catching a lot of verbal abuse from the Pirates Dugout, led by Trevor Williams.

During a meeting on the mound with his pitching coach, Garrett sprinted to the area in front of the Pirates dugout where he started swinging at Williams and was pulled off by several other Pirates’ players, including Jose Osuna, who landed a punch to the back of Garrett’s head. Reds’ manager David Bell, who was in the clubhouse after being ejected, returned to the field and shoved Pirates’ manager Clint Hurdle to the ground before being tackled by Pirates’ hitting coach Rick Eckstein. Meanwhile Pirates’ pitcher Kyle Crick had someone in a headlock as he ended up at the bottom of a pile of players.

As calm started to return, Yasiel Puig, who’d was unaware that moments before he’d been traded to the Cleveland Indians, had to be repeatedly restrained as he ran from one end of the scrum to another looking for someone to fight.

Additional players were fined, some for coming on the field while being on the Injured List, which would include but may not be limited to Francisco Cervelli and Steven Brault.

The suspensions can be appealed and won’t be served until those appeals are exhausted, so the dates of the suspensions could well end up staggered.

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Pirates

Manager Clint Hurdle has received a two-game suspension for his Club’s conduct during the incident and his Club’s multiple intentional pitches thrown at Dietrich this season.

Pitcher Keone Kela has received a 10-game suspension for intentionally throwing a pitch in the area of the head of Derek Dietrich of the Reds in the bottom of the seventh inning and for his role in instigating the bench-clearing incident.

Infielder José Osuna has received a five-game suspension for his aggressive and inappropriate actions during the ninth inning incident.

Pitcher Kyle Crick has received a three-game suspension for his inappropriate actions during the ninth inning incident.

Reds

Manager David Bell has received a six-game suspension for returning to the field following his ejection; escalating the incident with his aggressive actions; his Club’s intentional pitch at Marte; and his numerous ejections this season.

Pitcher Amir Garrett has received an eight-game suspension for inciting the bench-clearing incident by running to the area outside the Pirates’ dugout and throwing a punch in the top of the ninth inning.

Pitcher Jared Hughes has received a three-game suspension for intentionally throwing a pitch at Starling Marte of the Pirates in the top of the ninth inning.Outfielder Yasiel Puig, who was then a member of the Reds, has received a three-game suspension for his aggressive actions during the ninth inning incident.