2 Miracle suspended for roles in brawl

The Fort Myers Miracle and Tampa Yankees had a bench-clearing brawl in the 10th inning of Saturday’s game. Players from both teams threw punches.

Even 52-year-old Fort Myers pitching coach Eric Rasmussen was punched under his right eye.

The Florida State League handed down its punishment for Saturday’s fisticuffs on Thursday.

Fort Myers’ All-Star catcher Jose Morales and reserve outfielder Alex Romero were suspended for three games. Tampa’s Jayson Drobiak, Shelley Duncan, Jared Koutnik and Gabe Lopez also got three games. All six received an undisclosed fine.

The suspensions started Thursday night.

“Of course I’m angry,” Morales said. “Lopez just kicked me straight in the chest. If I’m going to be suspended for the same time he’s going to be suspended, I think that’s wrong. But there’s nothing I can do.”

The brawl began with the game tied at 5.

After a single to right field, Lopez attempted to score from second base. He slid into home with a hard slide. His left leg plowed into Morales, knocking him over. Morales got up and started yelling at Lopez.

Drobiak, who was on deck, raced toward Morales and punched him in the back of the head.

Then both teams started throwing punches.

Romero sprinted to home plate from center field and “started punching and kicking everybody,” Morales said.

“I saw my friend go down and get punched in the head,” Romero said. “I had to help him.”

Rasmussen, who had a small shiner under his right eye Thursday, said he didn’t know which Yankee hit him.

Morales, who was named to the FSL’s Western Division All-Star team on Tuesday, was hitting .250 through Wednesday. Backup catcher Kyle Geiger will start in his place.

Romero was batting .240 through Wednesday.

Tampa manager Rick Down couldn’t be reached for comment. FSL commissioner Chuck Murphy declined to speak at length about the suspensions.

“It was a violation of our on-field conduct, that’s all I can say,” Murphy said.