Carlos Gomez suspended 3 games

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Carlos Gomez and catcher Martin Maldonado were among four players suspended by Major League Baseball for their roles in Sunday's bench-clearing altercation with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Gomez, who helped start the incident by exchanging heated words with Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole, was suspended three games. Maldonado, who punched Pittsburgh's Travis Snider, received a five-game suspension.

Snider was suspended two games, and Pirates catcher Russell Martin was suspended one game. All four players were fined undisclosed amounts; a source told ESPN's Buster Olney that Maldonado's fine was $2,500.

MLB announced the penalties Tuesday, saying in a release that the players were "suspended for their aggressive actions." Cole wasn't punished.

Gomez will appeal his suspension and play in Tuesday's game against the San Diego Padres, but Maldonado will begin serving his suspension immediately.

Snider and Martin also will appeal their suspensions, and both players were in Pittsburgh's starting lineup Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds.

Sunday's scuffle began when Gomez and Cole yelled at each other following the Milwaukee star's triple in the third inning. Cole, who was near third base backing up the play, stormed toward Gomez, and they exchanged words.

The benches then emptied, and as the teams converged, Snider came onto the field and tackled Gomez, getting a minor assist from Martin in the process. Maldonado then threw a punch that left a cut and bruises around Snider's eye.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.