Ivan Rodriguez, Torii Hunter suspended for fight

[September 11, 2008]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Yankees catcher Ivan Rodriguez and the Los Angeles Angels Torii Hunter were suspended two games each Wednesday for their roles in a bench-clearing scuffle.

Rodriguez took an open-handed swing at Hunter after getting shoved in the back by the Angels star, and both players were ejected Monday night.

Bob Watson, baseball's vice president in charge of discipline, cited them for "violent and inappropriate actions."

Both were fined, as was Angels pitcher John Lackey. Los Angeles went on to win 12-1.

Hunter, hung up between third and home on Mike Napoli's sixth-inning grounder, came in standing up and bumped into Rodriguez, who tagged him out.

Rodriguez appeared to nudge Hunter with his left elbow after the tag, then walked toward the mound. Hunter turned, took a few steps and pushed Rodriguez in the back. The catcher whipped off his mask and charged at Hunter, but was restrained by plate umpire Ted Barrett while missing on a wild swing.

"It happened so fast," Hunter said after the game. "I don't know if Pudge thought I pushed him. He pushed me. It just got frustrating."

Rodriguez and Hunter spoke later during the game.

"We apologized to each other," Rodriguez said. "He's a very professional player and so am I. I've been in baseball for 18 years and I've never started a fight. I compete and I compete hard. And sometimes when you compete hard, things like that happen."

Hunter regretted losing his temper.

"You don't want to promote violence," he said. "I want to apologize to the fans for my temper flaring."

[Associated Press]

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