Players, coaches fined for Phillies-Dodgers flare-up
Sports Network | October 13, 2008
New York, NY (Sports Network) - Major League Baseball fined four players and three coaches who were involved in a temper flare-up during the third inning of Sunday's Game 3 of the National League Championship Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and Dodgers.
Undisclosed fines were handed out to Dodgers players Hiroki Kuroda and Manny Ramirez, as well as LA third-base coach Larry Bowa and first-base coach Mariano Duncan. Phillies players J.C. Romero and Shane Victorino, and first- base coach Davey Lopes were also fined.
The incident, which cleared the benches, started when Kuroda threw a high pitch over Victorino's head. Victorino jawed at Kuroda and appeared to say, "It's OK to throw at my body, but not my head."
Victorino then grounded out to first base, but had words for Kuroda. Dodgers left fielder Ramirez, who had a pitch go by his head on Friday from Brett Myers, had to be held back by teammate Russell Martin as the dugouts emptied.
Umpires warned both benches and there were no ejections. The players then left the field for the bottom of the third. Los Angeles eventually won the game, 7-2.
Kuroda's pitch was apparently also in retaliation for the Phillies throwing at Martin. Jamie Moyer hit Martin with a pitch on the left leg in the first inning, and in the second Clay Condrey's offering was up near Martin's head. Martin was hit again by a pitch in the seventh inning.
