Suspensions handed out in Pirates-Brewers brawl

Major League Baseball suspended four players involved in Sunday’s brawl between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Milwaukee Brewers.

Milwaukee catcher Martin Maldonado was suspended five games, and outfielder Carlos Gomez was suspended three games. Pittsburgh outfielder Travis Snider received a two-game penalty, with catcher Russell Martin also sitting out one game.

Maldonado began his suspension with Tuesday’s game against the San Diego Padres. Gomez decided to appeal and was in his usual leadoff position. Manager Ron Roenicke said he thought a decision could take a couple of weeks.

“I’m appealing because it’s not fair and I’m not the one that started the fight and I’m not the one that started throwing punches first,” Gomez said Tuesday. “I’ll appeal it and wait for the result.”

Snider and Martin plan to appeal the suspension and were penciled into the lineup for Tuesday night’s game against Cincinnati.

Benches cleared after Gomez and Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole exchanged words after Gomez’s triple in the third inning. Snider came onto the field and tackled Gomez, getting a minor assist from Martin in the process.

Snider was then punched in the face by Maldonado, receiving a small gash under his left eye.