MLB disciplines Yanks, Rays

Mar 14, 2008 - 5:39 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Major League Baseball on Friday disciplined five members of the New York Yankees, including new manager Joe Girardi, and one member of the Tampa Bay Rays for their part in bench-clearing incident earlier this week.

New York's Shelley Duncan and Melky Cabrera received the biggest penalty, as each was suspended three games and fined an undisclosed amount.

Jonny Gomes of the Rays received a two-game suspension and also was fined an undisclosed amount.

Unless appealed, all three suspensions will begin March 31, when the regular season gets under way.

Girardi was fined an undisclosed amount along with Yankees third base coach Bobby Meacham and hitting coach Kevin Long.

The incident, which occurred during Wednesday's Grapefruit League contest, started in the bottom of the first when Yankees starter Health Phillips was ejected for throwing a fastball high and inside to Tampa Bay prospect Evan Longoria.

In the top of the second, Duncan reached on an infield single and tried to stretch the hit into a double. Duncan headed to second and slid with spikes high into the chest of Tampa Bay second baseman Akinori Iwamura.

Gomes charged in from right field to tackle Duncan, prompting both benches to empty. Duncan and Gomes were ejected, along with Long and Meacham.

The ill-will between the teams started in last Saturday's game, when Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli was bowled over at the plate by Tampa Bay infielder Elliott Johnson.

Cervelli fractured his right wrist and is expected to miss eight to 10 weeks.

Girardi ripped Johnson, saying such a play was unnecessary in a spring training game.