Reynaldo López suspended 5 games, Angels’ Jorge Soler suspended 7 games for bench-clearing brawl

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Braves pitcher Reynaldo López and Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler have both been suspended by Major League Baseball for their roles in a bench-clearing brawl during Tuesday’s game.

Soler was suspended seven games, but will appeal the suspension.

MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association reached an agreement to have López’s suspension reduced to five games, effective immediately. With an off day, López will be able to keep his scheduled next start for Atlanta.

The two came to blows in the bottom of the fifth inning after López threw near Soler’s head. Soler had homered off López in the first inning and López responded by hitting Soler with a pitch in the third.

There was a lengthy staredown before Soler took steps toward the mound and López held out his arms before the two exchanged punches. López was holding the baseball when he landed a punch on Soler’s batting helmet.

The benches cleared, culminating in Braves manager Walt Weiss – a black belt in Taekwondo – tackling Soler.

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