KYODO – Tokyo Yakult Swallows slugger Wladimir Balentien has been fined ¥200,000 and Hanshin Tigers coach Akihiro Yano ¥150,000 for their part in a melee on Tuesday.
The fines were handed down Wednesday by Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner Katsuhiko Kumazaki. Both were ejected in the fifth inning of the Swallows-Tigers game at Kyocera Dome.
Tempers flared after Tigers pitcher Shintaro Fujinami struck Swallows slugger Kazuhiro Hatakeyama on the top of his shoulder. After the batter got back to his feet, he began taking steps toward the mound.
Hatakeyama’s teammates dashed from the bench to surround him, and Tigers players joined them in what became a pushing and shoving match.
Balentien came late to the ruckus and charged into the scrum. Yano fell over backward and then went after Balentien.
NPB rules instruct umpires to eject pitchers who hit batters in the head area. Fujinami was not ejected, although Yakult on Wednesday submitted an opinion to NPB, stating the team’s belief that the pitcher should have been thrown out of the game.
Both Balentien and Yano also received warnings.
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Tigers coach Akihiro Yano falls to the ground in front of the Swallows' Wladimir Balentien during a benches-clearing incident in their game on Tuesday. | KYODO
