Major League Baseball came down hard on the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox, suspending six players and fining a total of seven in the wake of Thursday night's seventh-inning brawl at U.S. Cellular Field.
Royals starter Yordano Ventura received the harshest penalty, a seven-game suspension for cursing at White Sox batter Adam Eaton after fielding a ground ball. Ventura was fined earlier in the week for his actions in the Royals' fracas with the Oakland Athletics last weekend.
Also earning suspensions: Royals pitcher Edinson Volquez (five games), for throwing a punch on the edge of the melee; White Sox starter Jeff Samardzija (five games), for charging at Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain; Kelvin Herrera (two games), Chris Sale (five games) and Cain (two games).
In addition, White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers has received an undisclosed fine.
Thursday's fracas continued the tensions between the clubs that began on Opening Day, when Samardzija hit Cain with a pitch immediately after a Royals home run. They ramped up considerably Thursday when Sale hit Mike Moustakas with a pitch, and Ventura hit Chicago slugger Jose Abreu.
It was touched off when Ventura and Eaton jawed during a plate appearance, and after Eaton hit a comebacker to Ventura, the pitcher jogged toward first base and cursed him as he tossed the ball for the putout.
Ventura was ejected after the brawl, the second time he's failed to finish a start due to an ejection this month.
Royals starter Yordano Ventura received the harshest penalty, a seven-game suspension for cursing at White Sox batter Adam Eaton after fielding a ground ball. Ventura was fined earlier in the week for his actions in the Royals' fracas with the Oakland Athletics last weekend.
Also earning suspensions: Royals pitcher Edinson Volquez (five games), for throwing a punch on the edge of the melee; White Sox starter Jeff Samardzija (five games), for charging at Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain; Kelvin Herrera (two games), Chris Sale (five games) and Cain (two games).
In addition, White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers has received an undisclosed fine.
Thursday's fracas continued the tensions between the clubs that began on Opening Day, when Samardzija hit Cain with a pitch immediately after a Royals home run. They ramped up considerably Thursday when Sale hit Mike Moustakas with a pitch, and Ventura hit Chicago slugger Jose Abreu.
It was touched off when Ventura and Eaton jawed during a plate appearance, and after Eaton hit a comebacker to Ventura, the pitcher jogged toward first base and cursed him as he tossed the ball for the putout.
Ventura was ejected after the brawl, the second time he's failed to finish a start due to an ejection this month.
