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Posada, Carlson suspended in wake of brawl

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-18 10:18

NEW YORK: Major League Baseball suspended Yankees catcher Jorge Posada and Toronto pitcher Jesse Carlson for three games on Wednesday for their roles in a bench-clearing brawl.

MLB vice president Bob Watson deemed the pair displayed "aggressive and inappropriate actions" in a game on Tuesday.

They began serving the suspensions immediately, while Yankee Shelley Duncan appealed a three-game suspension, automatically delaying the start of the punishment.

Toronto manager Cito Gaston said Carlson was fined $3,000 and that Blue Jays catcher Rod Barajas was fined $1,000.

The drama started in the sixth inning when Blue Jays' batter Edwin Encarnacion was hit by a pitch. Two innings later, Carlson threw behind Posada.

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Posada walked towards the mound and spoke to Carlson. Both dugouts emptied and while order was quickly restored tempers were still simmering.

Posada then scored on a double by Brett Gardner and after he crossed home he bumped Carlson on his way to the Yankees' dugout.

Carlson walked aggressively towards the Yankees' dugout and yelled at Posada and the fight was on.

Posada had been taken out of the Yankees starting lineup for Wednesday's game even before the suspension was announced because of a stiff neck, which manager Joe Girardi said was a result of the fight.

"That is part of baseball but that's a part of baseball that I don't like," Girardi said.

AFP