Barrett Is Suspended for 10 Games

Chicago Cubs catcher Michael Barrett was suspended for 10 games and White Sox outfielder Brian Anderson five games for a benches-clearing brawl that led to four ejections.

Barrett, who punched White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski and ignited the melee, and Anderson also were fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball on Friday.

White Sox third base coach Joey Cora was suspended two games and fined, and Pierzynski was fined for the incident during the interleague game on Saturday.

Barrett immediately filed an appeal and was in the lineup for Friday’s game against the Atlanta Braves in Chicago. He said he hoped to have the number of games reduced.

“I didn’t know what to expect. I’ve never really been in a situation like this,” Barrett said. “I tried to prepare myself for the worst-case scenario and obviously hope for the best and just try at this point to take whatever comes next.”

Barrett wasn’t specific about the basis for his appeal, and said he didn’t know a timetable for hearing it.

Cubs Manager Dusty Baker said Barrett’s penalty was a “little harsh.”

“We knew it would be something. We were hoping it wasn’t going to be that many days,” Baker said.

Baker said he was next to Cora and pulled him out of the melee but wasn’t sure what Cora had done to get the suspension.

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Cubs pitcher Mark Prior, on the disabled list all season because of a sore right shoulder, will probably go on a rehabilitation assignment at Class A Peoria on Monday or Tuesday. Prior, who will be in his fifth season with the Cubs, has a 41-23 career record but has been slowed by injuries. He was 18-6 in 2003.... The Detroit Tigers put starter Mike Maroth on the 15-day disabled list because of an injured left elbow and recalled reliever Chris Spurling from triple-A Toledo. Maroth is 5-2 with a 3.56 earned-run average in nine starts despite dealing with elbow problems since April.