La Russa, McClendon suspended 2 games

NEW YORK -- St. Louis manager Tony La Russa and Pittsburgh manager Lloyd McClendon each were suspended for two games Friday after getting into a shouting match during a game that caused both benches to empty.

McClendon and La Russa also were both fined undisclosed amounts by Bob Watson, baseball's vice president of on-field operations.

La Russa began his suspension Friday night against Houston. McClendon, whose Pirates beat Chicago 2-1 Friday, was to begin his suspension today.

La Russa said before Friday's game against Houston that he was surprised the ruling came so quickly.

"I thought what would happen was before anybody made a decision that they would look at the videotape, they would look at all the pitches thrown at Cardinals, they would ask for the Pirates' side and the Cardinals' side and then make a decision," La Russa said. "That's not how it went."

Both managers were ejected with two outs in the top of the ninth inning in St. Louis' 4-2 victory over Pittsburgh on Thursday after Pirates reliever Mike Gonzalez sent Tony Womack to the dirt with a high, inside pitch.

Before Gonzalez's next pitch, La Russa yelled at him. That prompted McClendon to storm out of his team's dugout and head toward the Cardinals dugout to confront La Russa.

-- AP