Carlos Gomez and Reed Johnson have each been suspended one game for their participation in Wednesday evening's bench-clearing brawl between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Atlanta Braves. Both suspensions will be enacted Thursday night. Gomez will miss the Brewers' game against the New York Mets at Citi Field, and Johnson will miss the Braves' home game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Carlos Gomez, Reed Johnson suspended for participation in Brewers-Braves brawl
Carlos Gomez and Reed Johnson will sit Thursday night with one-game suspensions. Gomez incited a brawl between the Brewers and Braves on Wednesday night, and Johnson escalated it by taking a swing at Gomez’s head.
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The fight broke out in the first inning. Gomez was the game's second batter of the evening. After hitting a solo home run off Paul Maholm, Gomez took his time trotting the bases, jawing with Maholm and first baseman Freddie Freeman along his path towards home. As Gomez rounded third towards home plate, he found catcher Brian McCann standing in his way. The initial jawing escalated from there.
As Gomez and Johnson were exchanging words before home plate, Johnson came off the bench and threw a punch at Gomez’s head, and appeared to be the first player to make physical contact between the two teams. Both benches and bullpens promptly cleared to form a mass of players that moved just behind home plate. Throughout the chaos, Gomez never touched home plate, though officials still awarded him the run.
Gomez and Johnson were ejected, as well as Freeman and Braves reserve catcher Gerald Laird. Only Gomez and Johnson earned suspensions, however.
Gomez apologized for the incident after being handed his suspension, and admitted that he went overboard. He also said that he expected the reaction he got from McCann. Gomez showed little contrition to Johnson, however:
Gomez said he didn't know why Reed Johnson took particular offense Wednesday night. "I didn't even know he was still playing," Gomez said.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) September 26, 2013
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