MLB issues discipline following Marlins-Brewers

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Miami Marlins pitcher Anthony DeSclafani was suspended for three games and Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Mike Fiers was fined for their actions after Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton got hit in the face by a pitch from Fiers.

Major League Baseball announced the discipline Friday. The league said in a statement that DeSclafani’s suspension and an undisclosed fine were for intentionally throwing a pitch at Milwaukee’s Carlos Gomez with a warning in place in the sixth inning of Thursday’s game.

Fiers received an undisclosed fine for what the league said were “his actions which contributed to the benches clearing.”

Stanton sustained multiple facial fractures, dental damage and cuts that needed stitches after being struck in the fifth inning in the 4-2 loss.

Fiers hit Reed Johnson on a hand with his next pitch, and that triggered a benches-clearing shouting match.

The suspension had been scheduled to begin Friday, when the Marlins opened a series against the Phillies in Philadelphia. However, the suspension was put on hold pending DeSclafani’s appeal through the players’ association.

Fiers left messages Friday for Stanton and Marlins manager Mike Redmond.

“A lot of people who know the game of baseball, understand what happened, and know me personally, know that I’m not looking to go throw at people. So it’s definitely an accident and we all hope it never happens and stuff like that never happens in this game, but unfortunately it does,” Fiers said before Milwaukee’s game against Cincinnati.

Stanton said on Twitter earlier Friday he was “much better.”

“The amount of support I have received from you guys has been tremendous & Heartfelt,” Stanton said.

A front-runner for the NL MVP award, Stanton’s season likely ended Thursday night after the errant pitch. Blood poured from Stanton’s mouth before he was taken to a hospital.

The Marlins said Stanton was expected back in Miami on Friday. The team has not definitively said his season is over, though manager Mike Redmond strongly suggested he does not expect Stanton back in 2014.

Stanton leads the NL with 37 home runs and 105 RBIs.

The Marlins have fading hopes for a National League wild card berth. The Brewers were 1 1/2 games back of Pittsburgh in the NL wild card race, and Fiers has been their best pitcher since getting called up from the minors in early August.

Manager Ron Roenicke spoke with Fiers after Thursday’s game and then before Friday’s game, to make sure Fiers was OK and to get him re-focused to prepare for his next start.

“There’s a lot going on and we’ve got a couple weeks left here,” Fiers said. “We need to win games, but as long as he’s fine, we’ve got to look past this.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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