DETROIT — Indians pitcher Fausto Carmona was suspended six games and Tigers slugger Gary Sheffield was penalized four games Monday for their brawl last week. Indians catcher Victor Martinez and infielder Asdrubal Cabrera were suspended three games each and fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball disciplinarian Bob Watson.
Sheffield was hit by a pitch from Carmona on Friday night in Cleveland. Moments later, Sheffield charged the mound from first base, starting a bench-clearing scrap.
“I’ve been in a lot of brawls, being a peacemaker, and when someone’s back is to you, you pull them away — that’s what you are supposed to do,” said Sheffield, who said he will not appeal. “You don’t take cheap shots, and that’s what happened. I take that personally, and when I find out who it was, they are going to have to deal with me.”
Carmona and Martinez will appeal their penalties.
• Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera left Monday’s game against Kansas City with a back problem.
Footnotes.
The Cubs adjusted their pitching rotation this week to prepare for the first round of the playoffs, pushing Rich Harden back a couple of days to Thursday and bumping Ted Lilly to the weekend series at Milwaukee.
• The Pirates are nearing agreement on a $6.4 million, four-year deal with draft pick Pedro Alvarez that would end a two-month dispute.
The Associated Press
