MLB Suspends 8, Disciplines 12 for Diamondbacks-Dodgers Brawl

Major League Baseball suspended eight players on Friday in the wake of Tuesday evening's benches-clearing brawl between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.

An official press release from MLB outlined the 12 players that faced disciplinary action. Diamondbacks starting pitcher Ian Kennedy was hit hardest with a 10-game suspension, while Eric Hinske will sit out five games for his actions. 

UPDATE: Monday, June 17th at 9:47 p.m. ET by Eric Ball

Ian Kennedy has decided to drop his appeal according to the team's official Twitter feed. His suspension starts tonight:

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UPDATE: Friday, June 14th at 4 p.m. ET by Kyle Vassalo

According to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register, JP Howell and Skip Schumaker will appeal their suspensions:

The L.A. Times' Dylan Hernandez passes along this tweet from Howell on Kennedy's suspension:

Hernandez says Ronald Belisario will serve his suspension tonight:

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Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal documented Hinske's disbelief at the punishment, which he will appeal:

It was Kennedy who sparked the chaos in the bottom of the seventh inning by intentionally throwing at Dodgers starting pitcher Zack Greinke. The hurler had grazed L.A.'s prodigious right fielder, Yasiel Puig, in the nose just an inning before that.

Greinke retaliated to Puig's HBP by plunking Arizona catcher Miguel Montero in the back in the top half of the seventh. Despite Dodgers catcher Ramon Hernandez preventing Montero from charging, the dugouts emptied.

The initial encounter was somewhat civil, but after Kennedy hit Greinke's shoulder, things got physical.

Interestingly, the players most prominently involved in the beaning exchange aren't among those facing suspensions. Greinke, Puig, Montero and Diamondbacks outfielder Gerardo Parra all just received fines. 

For his part in the brawl, Dodgers hitting coach Mark McGwire has been suspended for two games, as have utility player Skip Schumaker and pitcher J.P. Howell. Relief pitcher Ronald Belisario received a one-game suspension.

Both managers were suspended one game apiece. Arizona's Kirk Gibson—who ironically hit one of the Dodgers' most historic home runs in the 1988 World Series—and L.A. skipper Don Mattingly will both serve their suspensions tonight, according to MLB's statement.