MLB suspends players in Boston-Baltimore brawl

Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz and Baltimore Orioles pitcher Kevin Gregg were suspended four games and fined on Thursday for their parts in last Friday’s bench-clearing brawl.

Orioles pitcher Mike Gonzalez was suspended three games, and manager Buck Showalter was suspended one game as part of the punishment handed out by Major League Baseball. Gregg and Gonzalez have decided to appeal, delaying the suspensions.

“I’ll let the process go out,” said Gregg, who did not reveal the amount of his fine except to say it was “steep.” “I get the right to meet in New York with some people, tell them how it went down, what happened, get to say my side of the story.”

Showalter sat out against the Cleveland Indians. He was replaced by bench coach John Russell.

Gonzalez said he was fined $1,500.

The skirmish started when Gregg threw two inside pitches to Ortiz. The Red Sox designated hitter started toward the mound after the second, and players from both benches and bullpens trotted onto the field, but nothing further developed.

Gregg then got Ortiz to pop out and shouted something to the Boston slugger, who charged and met Gregg about halfway between the mound and first base line. Umpire Mike Estabrook ejected Gregg, Ortiz and Saltalamacchia.

Colon’s medical records received

MLB has received medical records on Bartolo Colon’s stem cell treatment performed in the Dominican Republic in April 2010.

Baseball spokesman Pat Courtney said the records were received and it would take time for them to be reviewed. The records are in Spanish.

Stem cells were injected into the shoulder and elbow of the 2005 A.L. Cy Young Award winner in an attempt to regenerate tissue. The doctors involved have said human growth hormone was not involved.

Yankees place Rodriguez on DL

The New York Yankees put third baseman Alex Rodriguez on the 15-day disabled list while he recovers from surgery on his right knee.

Rodriguez is expected to miss four to six weeks.

The Yankees promoted outfielder Greg Golson from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to fill the void.

Clearing the bases

The Oakland Athletics say left-handed pitcher Brett Anderson will miss the rest of the season after having reconstructive surgery on his elbow. … Pitcher Jaime Garcia is guaranteed $27 million over the next four years under the contract he agreed to this week with the St. Louis Cardinals.