Major League Baseball announced suspensions for the Cincinnati Reds-Pittsburgh Pirates bench-clearing brawl during Sunday's series finale at PNC Park. Pirates pitcher Chris Archer, Reds outfielder Yasiel Puig and manager David Bell all received suspensions. Here's the official announcement from MLB:
Pirates pitcher Chris Archer has received a five-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for intentionally throwing a pitch at Derek Dietrich of the Reds. The suspension of Archer is subject to appeal. If Archer elects to file an appeal, then the discipline issued to him will be held in abeyance until the process is complete.
Reds outfielder Yasiel Puig has received a two-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for his aggressive actions during the incident. Puig will begin to serve his suspension tonight, when the Reds are to host the Miami Marlins at Great American Ball Park.
Reds manager David Bell has received a one-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for his aggressive actions during the incident. Bell's suspension is to be served tonight.
In Sunday's game, Reds utility man Derek Dietrich crushed a two-run homer against Archer in the second inning. Dietrich stood at home plate to watch the ball he just crushed fly over the bleachers and into the Allegheny River.
All aboard the showboat 🚢 pic.twitter.com/fqOj0CkjLK
— Cut4 (@Cut4) April 7, 2019
In Dietrich's next trip to the plate, Archer threw a first-pitch fastball behind him. Home plate umpire Jeff Kellogg immediately issued a warning to Archer, but Bell came out of the dugout to argue that there should have been an immediate ejection. With tensions high, benches cleared. Here's a video of the scuffle:
Temps are rising in Pittsburgh after a behind the back pitch on Derek Dietrich who homered earlier in the game. pic.twitter.com/y3dIDCV7Gj
— FOX Sports Ohio (@FOXSportsOH) April 7, 2019
After things settled down and the game finally resumed, ejections were handed out to Bell and Puig. Reds lefty Amir Garrett and Pirates relievers Keone Kela and Felipe Vazquez were also tossed. In the eighth inning, Dietrich crushed another home run as part of a late rally, but ultimately the Reds fell to the Pirates 7-5 with Pittsburgh completing a four-game sweep over Cincinnati.
Bell will serve his one-game suspension Tuesday night against the Miami Marlins. Puig will return to the lineup on Thursday after serving his two-game suspension during the first two games of the Marlins series. As for Archer, if his five-game suspension is upheld and he begins serving the suspension in Wednesday's road game against the Chicago Cubs, he will next be available to pitch on Sunday against the Washington Nationals.
