MLB suspended Indians third base coach Steve Smith for two games and fined Jensen Lewis for their part in Tuesday's fight with Boston. Red Sox's starting pitcher Josh Beckett and four of his teammates were fined as well.
View full sizeMajor League Baseball issued punishments to Indians and Red Sox players as a result of their scuffle earlier this week.Updated: 3:51 p.m.
BOSTON, Mass. -- This is a daily briefing of the Indians 2010 regular season. The Indians play the Red Sox tonight in the final game of a four-game series at Fenway Park.
Fenway Park's dimensions: Left field line 310 feet, left field power alley 379 feet, center field corner 420, right center field power alley 380, right field line 302. Height of the Green Monster (left field wall), 37 feet.
Game 109: Indians third base coach Steve Smith was suspended for two games and fined for his actions during a benches-clearing controntation with Boston in the eighth inning Tuesday night at Fenway Park.
Smith will begin serving his suspension tonight in the series finale against Boston. Manager Manny Acta has not decided who will coach third base. When Smith was ejected in Tuesday's game, first base coach Sandy Alomar Jr. moved to third and hitting coach Jon Nunnally coached first.
"It is what it is," said Smith, while he was checking out of the Indians hotel on Thursday. "I've got no comment."
Indians reliever Jensen Lewis, who started the fight by throwing behind Adrian Beltre in the eighth inning, was fined. As was Josh Becket, Boston's starting pitcher, who hit Shelley Duncan and Shin-Soo Choo with pitches in the early innings.
Boston players Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Mike Cameron and Jacoby Ellsbury were fined for going on the field during the incident while on the disabled list.
Bob Watson, MLB's dean of disipline, labeled Smith's actions "inappropriate and aggessive' in a written statement.
No official word why Smith was suspended and fine, but it probably had something to do with re-igniting the confrontation after it had appeared to calm down. Smith said he heard Boston pitching coach John Farrell yelling at the Indians and asked Farrell, "What's up?"
Boston manager Terry Francona started screaming at Smith and had to be restrained.
"Francona said something and I said something back," said Smith after the game Tuesday night.
Back home: Anthony Reyes' rehab at Class AA Akron because of a sore back. He'll throw a bullpen for the Indians big-league staff Friday at Progressive Field. If all goes well, he'll resume his rehab assignment in another five days.
Reclaimed: Wes Hodges, claimed by the Rockies when he was taken off the Indians 40-man roster to make room for Josh Tomlin, was reclaimed by the Indians. The Rockies put him on outright waivers after claiming him.
Hodges was optioned to Class AAA Columbus.
Trade: The Indians acquired minor league catcher Juan Apodaca and infielder Argenis Reyes from Boston for cash. Apodaca was hitting .209 (9-for-43) with three doubles, one homer and six RBI in 14 games at Class AAA Pawtucket after hitting .248 (33-for-133) with six doubles, two homers and six RBI at Class AA Portland.
Reyes hit .256 (11-for-43) in 14 games at Pawtuckett after being released by the Dodgers in April. He played in the Indians minor league system from 2001 and 2007. He played 58 games in the big leagues with the Mets in 2008 annd 2009.
Reyes will go to Columbus, while Apodaca goes to Akron. Catcher Damaso Espino was promoted to Columbus to make room for Apodaca.
Lineups:
Indians (62-62): CF Trevor Crowe (S), SS Jason Donald (R), RF Shin-Soo Choo (L), 1B Matt LaPorta (R), LF Jordan Brown (L), DH Jayson Nix (R), 2B Luis Valbuena (L), 3B Andy Marte (R), C Lou Marson (R) and RHP Josh Tomlin (1-0, 1.46).
Red Sox (61-47): CF Jacoby Ellsbury (L), SS Masrco Scutaro (R), DH David Oritz (L), C Victor Martinez (S), RF J.D. Drew (L), 3 Adrian Beltre (R), 1B Mike Lowell (R), LF Ryuan Kalish (L), 2B Bill Hall (R) and RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (7-3, 4.22).
Umpires: H Bill Welke H, 1B Mike DiuMuro, 2B Tim Welke, 3B Jim Reynolds. Time Welke, crew chief.
Quote of the day: "I figure I had no business being here this long anyway, so what do you care how old I am? I've been on borrowed time for years. You know my old saying: live it up, the meter's running. I've always said that if you don't have fun while you're here, then it's your fault. You only get to do this once," the late great Cubs announcer Harry Caray.
Next: Twins visit Progressive Field for three-game series starting Friday. LHP Francisco Liriano (10-7, 3.18 vs. Jeanmar Gomez (2-0, 1.50) will meeting Friday at 7:05.