
Milwaukee Brewers catcher Martin Maldonado has been suspended five games and fined $2,500 by Major League Baseball for his role in Sunday’s benches-clearing brawl with the Pittsburgh Pirates, ESPN.com reported Tuesday.
The scuffle began when Milwaukee’s Carlos Gomez and Pittsburgh pitcher Gerrit Cole yelled at each other following the Brewers outfielder’s triple in Sunday’s game. Cole took exception to Gomez’s bat flip before running.
Cole, who was near third base backing up the play, stormed toward Gomez and they exchanged words.
The benches then emptied, and as the teams converged, Maldonado landed a punch that left a cut and bruises around the eye of Pirates outfielder Travis Snider.
In four games this year, Maldonado has gone 4-for-12 with three walks and two strikeouts. The Brewers are not allowed to replace him on the roster during the suspension.
No other discipline has been announced, but there could be more suspensions or fines.