Reds Put Closer Graves on the Disabled List

Cincinnati Red closer Danny Graves was put on the 15-day disabled list Friday because of lower back spasms that flared up during his last outing.

Graves, an All-Star this season, leads the National League with 37 saves. He is 1-5 with a 4.09 earned-run average.

He had two bad outings against the St. Louis Cardinals this week, yielding a grand slam to Larry Walker in a loss Tuesday and two runs the next night. After Wednesday’s game, he received treatment for his sore back.

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Colorado pitcher Joe Kennedy was suspended for five games and Pittsburgh catcher Jason Kendall four for their parts in a bench-clearing brawl last Sunday in Pittsburgh. Both were also fined an undisclosed amount.

Kendall was batting in the fourth inning of the Pirates’ 3-0 win when a pitch from Kennedy hit the protective pad the catcher wears on his upper left arm.

Kendall dropped his bat and started toward first. Kennedy stepped off the mound and appeared to say something to Kendall, which caused Kendall to charge him.

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New York Met infielder Joe McEwing is probably out for the season after breaking a bone in his left leg. He was put on the disabled list, a day after getting hurt in the second game of a doubleheader against the Rockies. He was told he would be sidelined six to eight weeks.