Eight players suspended after bench-clearing brawl

BOSTON (Reuters) - Major League Baseball suspended eight players from the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays on Friday for their part in an ugly dugout-clearing brawl at Fenway Park.

Boston outfielder Coco Crisp, who triggered the melee when he charged the mound after being hit by Rays right-hander James Shields during the second inning of Thursday's 7-1 win, received a seven-game suspension.

Crisp has appealed against his suspension and was in the Boston lineup on Friday.

Other Red Sox suspended were left-hander Jon Lester, five games for intentionally throwing at a Tampa Bay batter after a warning had been issued, and first baseman Sean Casey, who was banned three games for fighting.

Five Rays players were disciplined, Shields hit with a six- game ban and outfielder Jonny Gomes and right-hander Edwin Jackson each receiving five games. Outfielder Carl Crawford got four games and second baseman Akinori Iwamura three, all for fighting.

(Writing by Steve Keating in Boston; Editing by Ed Osmond)