New York Mets star Mike Piazza and Los Angeles reliever Guillermo Mota each were suspended for five games and fined Monday for their roles in a bench-clearing brawl last week during an exhibition game.

The suspensions are to start on opening day. Piazza plans to appeal, meaning he can play pending a hearing.Piazza was fined $3,000 and ota was docked $1,500 by baseball disciplinarian Bob Watson. Mets outfielder Jeromy Burnitz was fined $500.

Piazza and Mota got into trouble Wednesday night at Port St. Lucie, Fla., after the Mets’ All-Star catcher was hit by a pitch. The problems continued when Piazza later went into the Dodgers’ clubhouse looking for Mota, who had already left.

The players had a bad history between them – last year in spring training, Piazza was fined $3,000 by Watson.

for grabbing Mota by the shirt after being hit by a pitch.

This time, Mota’s first pitch to Piazza was inside. The next one hit Piazza behind the left shoulder, and he rushed the mound.

Mota threw his glove at Piazza, began backpedaling and ran away from him. Both dugouts emptied, Piazza was restrained on the mound by several Dodgers and the Mets made a wild charge to get Mota, with Burnitz getting tackled by Los Angeles reserve Mike Kinkade.

AP-ES-03-17-03 1747EST

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