NEW YORK, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Boston Red Sox All-Star pitcher Derek Lowe admitted he ignited a benches-clearing brawl last Sunday
against the Baltimore Orioles. On Friday, he was one of five players suspended.
Bob Watson, Major League Baseball's vice president in charge of discipline, suspended Lowe for five games for intentionally throwing at a batter and penalized two other players on the Red Sox -- catcher Jason Varitek for four games and infielder Rey
Sanchez for three games -- for "fighting and acting
aggressively" during the brawl.
But Watson gave the stiffest penalty to Orioles reliever Willis Roberts, who was suspended for seven games for "fighting, acting aggressively" and for making contact with umpire Larry Vanover during the brawl.
Orioles outfielder Melvin Mora was also suspended for four games for "fighting and acting aggressively" and Red Sox pitching coach Tony Cloninger was banned for two games for "aggressive actions."
The suspensions for all except Sanchez were to start Friday, unless appealed.
Four members of the Orioles -- Gary Matthews Jr., David Segui, Jeff Conine and Rodrigo Lopez -- and four members of the Red Sox -- Carlos Baerga, Shea Hillenbrand, Doug Mirabelli and Ugueth Urbina -- were fined but not suspended.
The fight began after Lowe hit Matthews with the first pitch of the fourth inning after Baltimore's Scott Erickson hit Manny Ramirez with a pitch in the previous half-inning.
"Actually, I initiated the whole thing," Lowe said after the game. "I probably, maybe said something I shouldn't have, but you have to protect everybody, especially your superstar guys."
Both teams were issued warnings as Matthews took a few steps toward the mound. However, Matthews had words with Lowe after he tried to steal second on a pitch that was fouled off by Tony Bastista.
As Matthews walked back to first, he attempted to run toward the mound but was held back by first base coach Rick Dempsey and Boston first baseman Brian Daubach, never making it to Lowe. But both benches emptied, resulting in the obligatory pushing and
shoving near the mound.
Roberts was ejected for punching Boston's Carlos Baerga in
center field and Cloninger was tossed for his part in a shoving
match with Baltimore catcher Brook Fordyce.
