6 players, both managers suspended for Pirates-Reds brawl

The fallout from the Pittsburgh Pirates’ brawl with the Cincinnati Reds will hit players and managers of both teams where it hurts the most: on the roster and in the wallet.

Six players plus managers Clint Hurdle and David Bell were suspended and given undisclosed fines for their part in Tuesday’s incident at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. The players will appeal the suspensions, and their discipline will be held up until that process is complete, according to Joe Torre, Chief Baseball Officer for Major League Baseball.

David Bell has been ejected from the game.#BornToBaseball | #Reds pic.twitter.com/VI3a4hZCiC

— FOX Sports Ohio (@FOXSportsOH) July 31, 2019

If he doesn’t appeal, Hurdle will begin serving his two-game suspension Friday when the Pirates meet the New York Mets at PNC Park. In Hurdle’s absence, bench coach Tom Prince would manage the team.

Bell was suspended for six games and began serving his time Thursday night in Atlanta.

The longest suspension — 10 games — went to Pirates relief pitcher Keone Kela, who admitted to intentionally throwing near the head of the Reds’ Derek Dietrich. Torre said Kela also was suspended for his role “in the bench-clearing incident.”

It is Kela’s second suspension this season. He was suspended two games by the Pirates on July 22 for conduct that violated his contract.

Reds pitcher Amir Garrett was suspended eight games and charged by Torre with inciting the brawl by running toward the Pirates dugout and throwing punches.

Here are the others:

• Pirates third baseman Jose Osuna, the team’s top pinch hitter, was suspended five games for his “aggressive and inappropriate actions” during the ninth-inning brawl. Osuna was caught on video throwing punches.

• Pirates relief pitcher Kyle Crick was suspended three games for “inappropriate actions.”

• Outfielder Yasiel Puig, who since has been traded by the Reds to the Cleveland Indians, was suspended three games.

• Reds pitcher Jared Hughes, a popular member of the Pirates during his time with the team from 2011-2016, was suspended three games for intentionally throwing a pitch at the Pirates’ Starling Marte in the top of the ninth inning. Hughes was ejected from the game.

Torre said Bell received his suspension for returning to the field after his ejection for arguing balls and strikes earlier in the game. He is also charged with escalating the incident with aggressive actions that included shoving Hurdle, the intentional pitch at Marte and his numerous ejections this season. Bell has been ejected eight times, breaking a Reds record that had stood since 1910.

Hurdle was suspended for his team’s conduct and for the Pirates repeatedly throwing at Dietrich this season. Both benches emptied in April when Chris Archer threw behind Dietrich at PNC Park.

Also, fines were issued to Pirates pitcher Trevor Williams, Reds first baseman Joey Votto and Reds outfielder Phillip Ervin. Several players who are the injured list also were fined for participating in the brawl.

Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli, who is on the injured list with concussion symptoms, was caught on the field by video.

“The incidents between these two clubs remain a source of concern,” Torre said in a statement, “and it’s reflected by the level of discipline we are handing down.

“Everyone on the field should be aware of the example they are setting for fans, particularly young people. I firmly expect these two managers and all others to hold their players accountable for appropriate conduct and to guide them in the right direction.”

Notes: Pitcher Cody Ponce, who was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in the Jordan Lyles trade, was assigned to Double-A Altoona. … Lyles, who had a 15.00 ERA in July before the trade, was the winning pitcher Thursday night in the Brewers’ 4-2 victory against the Oakland A’s. He allowed three hits and one run in five innings.

Love baseball? Stay up-to-date with the latest Pittsburgh Pirates news.