Pittsburgh Pirates Travis Snider, Russell Martin Suspended After Brawl

As expected, Major League Baseball handed down punishments on Tuesday for those that played a major role in the Easter Sunday brawl between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers.

Apr 17, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Russell Martin (55) returns behind the plate after chasing a passed ball against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The biggest suspension went to that of Milwaukee Brewers catcher Martin Maldonado, who was handed a five-game ban by the league along with a $2,500 fine.

Carlos Gomez, who helped start the brawl by exchanging heated words with Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole was given a three-game suspension. Gomez has already said is appealing the suspension.

The Brewers weren’t the only team disciplined as both Travis Snider (two games) and Russell Martin (one game) were handed down suspensions as well.

All four players also received fines by the league.

Major League Baseball said in a release that the players were “suspended for their aggressive actions.”

It’s worth noting that Cole did not receive any punishment for his role in the incident.

The scuffle began when Gomez and Cole yelled at each other following Gomez’s triple in the third inning in which he stood and watched the ball, showing up the Pirates in the process.

Cole, who was near third base backing up the play, stormed toward Gomez, and they exchanged words.

The benches then emptied, and Maldonado threw a punch that left a cut and bruises around Snider’s eye.

All the players disciplined have the right to appeal the suspension or take them immediately.

Both Snider and Martin are tentatively in the Pirates lineup for now as the Bucs prepare for their game against the Cincinnati Reds, but that can change if either player elects to serve their suspensions.