MLB suspends Carlos Gomez for one game

Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez has been suspended for one game and fined an undisclosed amount for his role in the benches-clearing incident between the Brewers and Braves on Wednesday night.

Gomez will serve his suspension Friday night against the New York Mets. He was originally in Milwaukee's lineup for the series opener at Citi Field but was scratched as soon as the suspension was handed down.

"I expected that with what happened last night," Gomez said. "It's not good for baseball, all that’s going on. You have to take it like a man and be responsible for the stuff that I did. Just take the game today and come back tomorrow and come back tomorrow and continue to finish hard and strong."

Gomez chose not to appeal his suspension as he wanted to avoid a situation where the one-game ban would carry over into next season, causing him to miss Opening Day.

Although he wasn't ejected Wednesday night, Braves reserve outfielder Reed Johnson was also suspended one game for his role in the altercation. Johnson charged at Gomez during the melee and appeared to punch Gomez in the head. Braves catcher Brian McCann, who blocked Gomez's path to home plate causing the benches to clear, was not suspended.

Braves reserve catcher Gerald Laird and first baseman Freddie Freeman, who were ejected Wednesday, were not suspended.

As expected, Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez is out of the lineup Friday. He strained his already injured left knee during the altercation and is likely to miss Milwaukee's final four games. With Gomez scratched from the lineup, Norichika Aoki shifts from right field to center field.

Milwaukee's usual starting right fielder, Aoki has appeared in center field just once this season. In the original lineup in left field, Caleb Gindl will play right field, while Khris Davis gets the start in right field. 
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