MLB notebook: Kelly, Austin suspended for Fenway brawl

[April 13, 2018]  Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Joe Kelly was suspended for six games while New York Yankees designated hitter Tyler Austin was banned for five games because of Wednesday night's benches-clearing brawl between the longtime AL East rivals, Major League Baseball announced Thursday.

Both players were also fined undetermined amounts. They each plan to appeal their punishments.

Four other players currently on the disabled list were fined for their on-field actions Wednesday night at Fenway Park: Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia and Red Sox infielders Xander Bogaerts, Marco Hernandez and Dustin Pedroia. Red Sox manager Alex Cora and Yankees third base coach Phil Nevin also were fined.

Both Austin and Kelly were ejected in the seventh inning after Austin slammed his bat to the ground after being hit with the pitch, a 98-mph fastball, then charged the mound. Two others were ejected in the melee: Yankees pitcher Tommy Kahnle and Nevin.

--Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus will be able to avoid surgery, but he is expected to miss six to eight weeks with an olecranon fracture in his right elbow, the team announced.

Andrus exited Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Angels after taking a pitch to the elbow in the ninth inning. X-rays and a CT scan confirmed the extent of the injury. The Rangers said team physician Keith Meister determined the fracture is stable and will not require surgery.

The injury lands Andrus on the disabled list for the first time in 10 seasons in the majors. Andrus, 29, has played at least 145 games every year from 2009-17. He is batting .327 with two home runs and five RBIs in 14 games this season.

--Detroit Tigers right-hander Jordan Zimmermann doesn't expect to miss any time after suffering a bruised jaw when struck in the face by a liner Wednesday night against the Cleveland Indians.

Zimmermann, 31, said he didn't have a headache and that the swelling in his jaw had gone down. He plans to begin his typical routine between starts while preparing to face the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday.

Zimmermann was hit with a line drive by Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis, the second batter in the bottom of the first inning, Wednesday night and stayed down for a short time as teammates, the club trainer and manager Ron Gardenhire rushed to the mound. He eventually walked away with a towel on his face, and the team later announced that his injury was merely a contusion, with X-rays coming back negative and Zimmermann passing concussion protocol.

--The Chicago White Sox continued to overhaul their bullpen by recalling right-hander Chris Volstad from the minors.

Volstad, 31, was unscored upon in 14 innings of spring training work with the White Sox before being sent to Triple-A Charlotte last Friday, where he surrendered five runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings.

The White Sox bullpen has compiled a 5.59 ERA in the early going. On Wednesday, right-handed reliever Gregory Infante was optioned to Charlotte. Volstad takes the 40-man roster spot of left-hander Carlos Rodon, who was moved to the 60-day disabled list as he continues to rehab his left shoulder.

--Field Level Media

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