La Russa, Baker fined $500

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Giants manager Dusty Baker and Cardinals counterpart Tony La Russa were fined $500 each Thursday, a day after their teams scuffled in Game 1 of the NL championship series.

In addition, non-active players who often are allowed to sit on the bench were banned from the dugout.

"Everybody broke the rules and it makes sense," La Russa said before Game 2. "They went out there, they did something wrong and they got punished."

The trouble started in the fifth inning Wednesday night when San Francisco leadoff Kenny Lofton -- who had showboated after hitting an early home run -- was buzzed by St. Louis reliever Mike Crudale.

That led to the benches and bullpens clearing, a lot of pushing and shoving, a shouting match between La Russa and Baker, and a warning from plate umpire Randy Marsh against further hostility.

"I think Lofton should pay the fines for both Dusty and myself," La Russa said. "He can afford it."

Baker, one of La Russa's good friends, said Thursday the problems already were in the past.

"These things happen," he said.

There was to be no official warning before Game 2, said Ralph Nelson, vice president of umpires in the commissioner's office.

"Randy [Marsh] is going to tell both managers that, obviously, we know what occurred between them," Nelson said. "We don't think a warning is necessary."

But there were to be fewer people on each bench.

During postseason games, a few members of each team who are not on the active roster usually get permission to sit in the dugout. Because so many of them left the bench to run on the field, they were banned.

 

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