Major League Baseball sanctions Royals, White Sox for brawl

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (AP) – Seven members of the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox were fined and six suspended by Major League Baseball on Saturday for their roles in a brawl days earlier.

216px-Major_League_Baseball.svgFour members of the Royals and three from the White Sox were punished, and Major League Baseball placed the blame for the fighting on Thursday squarely on both teams.

Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura was handed a seven-game suspension, fellow starter Edinson Volquez given five games, and outfielder Lorenzo Cain and reliever Kelvin Herrera got two games apiece. White Sox pitchers Chris Sale and Jeff Samardzija were suspended for five games each, while catcher Tyler Flowers escaped suspension but joined the others in getting an undisclosed fine.

The Royals have not said whether they plan to appeal their punishments, which would begin with Sunday’s series finale because of a rainout on Saturday. Sale and Samardzija plan to appeal.

“Everybody had some elements of their behavior over the course of that incident on both sides that they wish they handled differently,” White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said during a conference call on Saturday. “Respect the fact that our players stood up and took responsibility for their actions and expressed remorse over those things they wish had been handled better.

“It is something that happens from time to time,” Hahn added. “It’s part of the game.”

Hahn said reliever Matt Albers broke a finger on his throwing hand in the melee and will go on the disabled list.