ANAHEIM, Calif. — Yankees catcher Ivan Rodriguez and Angels outfielder Torii Hunter were suspended for two games each Wednesday for their roles in a bench-clearing scuffle.
Rodriguez took an openhanded swing at Hunter after getting shoved in the back by Hunter, and both players were ejected Monday night.
Bob Watson, baseball's vice president in charge of discipline, cited them for "violent and inappropriate actions."
Both were fined, as was Angels pitcher John Lackey. Los Angeles went on to win 12-1.
"John was in the middle of it," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "It was a relatively minor incident. In hindsight, Torii was a little embarrassed. That's not the way Torii is."
Rodriguez and Hunter began serving their suspensions Wednesday, the series finale.
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Konerko suffers sprained knee
CHICAGO — White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee, and he is not sure when he will be able to play again as the team tries to hang onto the lead in the AL Central.
Konerko had an MRI on Wednesday that confirmed the mild sprain.
He was injured in the fifth inning Tuesday night against Toronto when his foot slipped while making a throw to second base.
"I have no idea when I'll get back in," he said. "It's different if this happened in April or May. You might wait until there was no pain. I'll just wait until I can function, and if there is some pain, that's fine.
"We're fighting here for a spot in the playoffs, but you got to be able to function when you hit. The move I got to make with my back knee is the move that would hurt right now."
Inside pitch
● The Dodgers activated right-handed pitcher Brad Penny from the 15-day disabled list Wednesday and plan to use their former ace as a reliever down the stretch.
Penny, who went on the disabled list Aug. 14 because of inflammation in his right shoulder, is 6-9 with a 6.05 ERA.
● Cardinals third baseman Troy Glaus will miss at least a handful of games after undergoing an MRI on Wednesday and getting a second cortisone injection for a strained right shoulder.
The Cardinals were missing three pivotal players for Wednesday night's game with the Cubs.
Outfielder Rick Ankiel was resting his lingering abdominal injury, right-hander Kyle Lohse began a five-game suspension for an incident against Cincinnati, and pitcher Chris Carpenter was unavailable and was scheduled for "further diagnostic tests" today.
● Pirates pitcher Tom Gorzelanny left the game Wednesday night against the Astros in the third inning with an irritation to his left middle finger.
● Giants outfielder Fred Lewis will undergo season-ending surgery Friday to remove a bunion from his right foot.
● Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips will have season-ending surgery Friday to have a pin inserted into his broken right index finger to help it heal properly.
● Braves manager Bobby Cox said Wednesday he would return next season.
● Brewers right fielder Gabe Kapler left Wednesday's game with a strained right shoulder after making a hard throw to the plate in the sixth inning against the Reds.
