Lackey Is Fined but Not Suspended

Oakland catcher Jason Kendall bore the brunt of baseball’s disciplinary action from Tuesday’s bench-clearing brawl in Angel Stadium, and Angel pitcher John Lackey got a slap on the wrist.

Kendall, who charged the mound after Lackey barked at him, on Friday was suspended for four games and fined an undisclosed amount. Lackey, who accused Kendall of trying to get hit by a pitch, received a $2,500 fine but no suspension, baseball officials essentially affirming the Angels’ contention that Kendall was the instigator of the fight.

“I definitely didn’t think I deserved to get suspended,” Lackey said. “He charged the mound, and everyone who does that gets suspended. I think they got it right.”

Kendall, who has been suspended four times in his career for fighting, has appealed and will have a hearing Friday in New York. Lackey might appeal his fine, “but it goes to charity, so that’s fine with me,” he said.

Angel General Manager Bill Stoneman and Manager Mike Scioscia spoke to Bob Watson, baseball’s vice president in charge of discipline, before Watson ruled.

“There was no need for [Kendall] to charge the mound,” Scioscia said, “and I’m happy the league saw it that way too.”

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Though the Angels let Bengie Molina go as a free agent last winter to clear room for rookie Jeff Mathis, the Toronto Blue Jay catcher took no pleasure in Wednesday’s demotion of Mathis, who was hitting .103, to triple-A Salt Lake.

“I like Jeff Mathis; he has a lot of talent,” Molina said. “But I bet you they knew he wasn’t ready and that it would be a hard task for him. I think it was a little too much for him. He wasn’t ready. That team isn’t rebuilding. That team is ready to win.”

Bengie Molina is batting .297 with three homers and seven runs batted in. His brother Jose, the Angels’ starting catcher, is batting .155.

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Designated hitter Tim Salmon will receive an honorary doctorate in public service tonight from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, the school where Salmon set career records with 225 runs, 51 home runs and 192 RBIs from 1986-89.

Salmon, who returned to school last year and needs 19 more hours to earn his bachelor’s degree, taped an acceptance speech last week that will be played at the school’s 54th annual commencement tonight in the Glendale, Ariz., arena.

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Center fielder Darin Erstad sat out his fifth straight game because of an irritated right ankle, but ran before Friday’s game and could return today.... Outfielder Juan Rivera, out since April 17 because of a rib-cage strain, began a minor league rehabilitation assignment at Salt Lake on Friday night. Rivera is scheduled to play three triple-A games before joining the Angels on Tuesday night in Chicago.... Bartolo Colon’s rehabilitation from shoulder inflammation has progressed from playing catch to long toss.