NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cincinnati pitcher Johnny Cueto has been suspended for seven games and four other players and the two managers disciplined for Tuesday's brawl between the Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals, Major League Baseball said Thursday.
Reds manager Dusty Baker and Cardinals counterpart Tony La Russa each received two-game suspensions and, like Cueto, were fined, MLB vice president Bob Watson said in a statement.
Also receiving undisclosed fines were second baseman Brandon Phillips and pitcher Russ Springer of the Reds and catcher Yadier Molina and pitcher Chris Carpenter of the Cardinals.
Cueto received the more severe punishment because of "his violent and aggressive actions during the incident," Watson said in a release.
Cueto's suspension was to begin Friday unless he files an appeal.
The first-inning incident began with an exchange of words between Phillips and Molina after Phillips had tapped Molina on the shin guards before the Cincinnati player's at-bat.
Players for both teams spewed onto the field and a lot of pushing and shoving ensued. Both Baker and La Russa were ejected after the seven-minute incident.
Phillips had angered the St. Louis players the previous day when he said he hated the Cardinals.
"All they do is (complain) and moan about everything, all of them," Phillips told reporters.
(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina. Editing by Steve Ginsburg)
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