Mariners' McLemore Suspended

May 23, 2000 / 7:12 PM EDT / CBS/AP

Seattle infielder Mark McLemore was suspended for five games Tuesday by the commissioner's officer for his role in a fight last weekend.

The players' association immediately appealed the penalty imposed by Frank Robinson, a vice president in the commissioner's office, delaying the start of any suspension until after an appeal before Paul Beeston, baseball's chief operating officer.

In addition to the suspension, McLemore and Mariners reliever Arthur Rhodes also were fined.

With Seattle trailing Tampa Bay 4-2 in the seventh inning last Saturday, McLemore charged the mound after an inside pitch and tackled pitcher Esteban Yan. Plate umpire Bill Welke had called time as Yan was delivering, which might have thrown off the pitch. McLemore was unaware that time was called.

Players from both benches and dugouts rushed onto the field and fought for about five minutes. McLemore and Rhodes were ejected, and the game resumed after a delay of about 15 minutes.

Tampa Bay held on to win 4-3.