MLB suspends eight individuals for Pirates-Reds brawl

[August 02, 2019]  (Reuters) - Eight individuals from the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds, including the managers of both clubs, have been suspended for their roles in a bench-clearing brawl this week, Major League Baseball said on Thursday.

Tempers between the rival clubs, who also had a bench-clearing fracas during a game in April, reached new heights in the top of the ninth inning of their Tuesday game in Cincinnati when Reds reliever Amir Garrett charged the Pirates dugout.

Keone Kela was given a 10-game ban for "intentionally" throwing a pitch near the head of Reds' Derek Dietrich in the seventh inning - which sparked the tensions - and for his role two innings later in instigating the bench-clearing incident.

Pittsburgh's Jose Osuna (five games) and Kyle Crick (three games) were also suspended while manager Clint Hurdle was handed a two-game ban for his club's conduct and their multiple intentional pitches thrown at Dietrich this season.

Cincinnati's Garret was given an eight-game suspension for inciting the brawl, manager David Bell got a six-game ban for returning to the field following his ejection, while Jared Hughes received a three-game suspension for intentionally throwing at Starling Marte in the top of the ninth.

Yasiel Puig, who has since been traded to the Cleveland Indians, was suspended for three games for what MLB called "aggressive actions" during the ninth inning incident.

Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez (left) Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Kyle Crick (30) Reds relief pitcher Amir Garrett (second from right) and Pirates first baseman Josh Bell (far right) brawl during the ninth inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo

All six players have elected to challenge the suspensions and can continue to play until the appeal process is complete.

"The incidents between these two clubs remain a source of concern, and it's reflected by the level of discipline we are handing down today," Joe Torre, MLB'S Chief Baseball Officer, said in a statement.

"Everyone on the field should be aware of the example they are setting for fans, particularly young people."

(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; editing by Ken Ferris)

[© 2019 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2019 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.