Red Sox pitcher Joe Kelly was suspending for six games and Yankees DH Tyler Austin received five games for their roles in Wednesday's Red Sox-Yankees melee at Fenway Park.
The two primary combatants were also fined an undisclosed amount. They weren't the only ones punished. Red Sox manager Alex Cora, Yankees third base coach Phil Nevin, Red Sox players Xander Bogaerts, Marco Hernandez and Dustin Pedroia, and Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia were also disciplined. All four players are currently on the disabled list.
The seeds of the bench-clearing brawl were laid when Austin spiked shortstop Brock Holt in the calf on a forceout. Holt took exception and the benches emptied, though no punches were thrown.
Things came to a head in the seventh, however, when Kelly threw one pitch inside and then drilled Austin with a 98 mph fastball in the back. Austin slammed his bat into home plate before charging the mound. Kelly, who had just given him the, "Let's go," signal, landed a punch before both benches swarmed the field.
Cora was caught on camera gesturing dismissively at Nevin, who had just been ejected. Cora was unapologetic on Thursday, while Nevin called the gesture unprofessional.