Cabrera, Duncan to serve suspensions

Apr 4, 2008 - 11:17 PM BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- New York Yankees center fielder Melky Cabrera and utility man Shelley Duncan on Friday have dropped their appeals and will serve the suspensions handed down to them by Major League Baseball last month.

Cabrera and Duncan were each suspended three games on March 14 for their part in a bench-clearing brawl during a spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays on March 12.

Cabrera will serve the first game of his suspension on Friday in the opener of a four-game set against the Rays.

Duncan, who was the instigator in the brawl, will begin serving his suspension on Sunday.

The incident in question started in the bottom of the first inning 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 Rays 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 Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long and third base coach Bobby Meacham.

The ill-will between the teams started when Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli was bowled over at the plate by Tampa Bay infielder Elliott Johnson in a spring game on March 8.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who was fined for the incident, will also miss Friday's game with a respiratory ailment.