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Report: Castellanos' 2-game suspension upheld on appeal

Dylan Buell / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Major League Baseball has upheld its decision to suspend Cincinnati Reds slugger Nick Castellanos for two games for "his aggressive actions and for instigating a benches-clearing incident" against the St. Louis Cardinals earlier in April, sources told Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.

The scrum was sparked in the second game of Cincinnati's season-opening series against St. Louis. Cardinals pitcher Jake Woodford hit Castellanos with a pitch in the fourth inning before Castellanos scored on a wild pitch later in the frame while Woodford was covering home plate. The two players made contact, and Castellanos then celebrated in front of Woodford after being deemed safe.

Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina took exception to Castellanos' actions, and both benches and bullpens cleared. No punches were thrown, and no other suspensions were given. St. Louis' Nolan Arenado, Jordan Hicks, and Molina were fined, as were Cincinnati's Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker.

Castellanos is disappointed with the decision and believes he's being singled out for showing emotion while being disciplined for the actions of others, Passan notes.

Reds manager David Bell and Castellanos' former teammate Trevor Bauer both expressed displeasure with the league's initial ruling when the outfielder's ban was first announced.

Castellanos, 29, is off to a hot start this season, hitting .295/.328/.623 with five homers over 15 games.

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