Major League Baseball suspended Indians starting pitcher Jeanmar Gomez for five games for hitting Kansas City Royals' third baseman Mike Moustakas on Saturday. Gomez threw at Moustakas in the bottom of the third inning. He was the Royals first batter after the Tribe's Shin-Soo Choo was hit on the knee by Jonathan Sanchez, inciting a bench-clearing confrontation. Gomez immediately responded the next half inning, plunking Moustakas on the hip and leading to another bench clearing. The Tribe starter was tossed, after later replays revealed both benches had already been issued warnings from the Choo dust-up.. The Indians announced that Gomez will appeal the suspension, and make a scheduled start on Saturday in Oakland. Via @Indians:
Jeanmar Gomez has been suspended for 5 games by the MLB League Office for actions in Saturday's game at KC. He will appeal & start Sat @ OAK
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) April 18, 2012
Tribe third baseman Jack Hannahan was at the center of both bench-clearing scuffles, getting in the face of Sanchez after the Choo beaning and charging and barking at the Royals after Gomez drilled Moustakas. Hannahan was fined $500 by the league for his involvement -- a penalty that he will not appeal.
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