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Los Angeles Angels’ Jorge Soler (12) and Atlanta Braves’ Reynaldo L\u00f3pez (40) fight during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif.<\/p>\n
Ethan Swope\/AP<\/p>\n
Los Angeles Angels’ Jorge Soler (12) is tackled to the ground by Atlanta Braves players as a fight breaks out during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif.<\/p>\n
Ethan Swope\/AP<\/p>\n
Los Angeles Angels’ Jorge Soler (12) reacts after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees , Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in New York.<\/p>\n
Yuki Iwamura\/AP<\/p>\n
Los Angeles Angels’ Jorge Soler (12) hits a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees , Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in New York.<\/p>\n
Yuki Iwamura\/AP<\/p>\n
NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 Los Angeles Angels slugger Jorge Soler began serving a four-game suspension Wednesday night against the New York Yankees after his penalty for getting into a fight with Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo L\u00f3pez was reduced.<\/p>\n
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Hours earlier, Soler’s punishment was cut by three games in an agreement between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association.<\/p>\n
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\u201cObviously, Jorgie\u2019s been swinging the bat really hot now, so it\u2019s unfortunate that we have to miss him for four games,\u201d Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said at Yankee Stadium. \u201cBut, you know, it is what it is and we have to deal with it. And we definitely will be waiting for him to come back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both players were initially suspended seven games and fined by MLB last week after they got into a brawl on the field and were ejected from a game between the Braves and Angels in Anaheim, California.<\/p>\n
Each player appealed, and an agreement was quickly reached between MLB and the MLBPA that trimmed L\u00f3pez\u2019s ban to five games. That penalty took effect immediately, and L\u00f3pez was able to make his scheduled next start Tuesday against Miami thanks to an off day in Atlanta’s schedule.<\/p>\n
Soler is batting .231 with five homers, 18 RBIs and an .849 OPS. He went deep Tuesday night, the last of three straight solo homers by the Angels in the first inning of a 7-1 victory at Yankee Stadium.<\/p>\n
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The 34-year-old Soler had started all 18 games for the Angels this season \u2014 15 at designated hitter and three in right field.<\/p>\n
Third baseman Yo\u00e1n Moncada was the DH on Wednesday night, with Oswald Peraza at the hot corner. Right fielder Jo Adell moved into Soler’s cleanup spot in the lineup, and the Angels were forced by rule to play a man short on the bench.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just try to tell \u2019em wherever they are in the lineup, just be themselves,\u201d Suzuki said. \u201cI think sometimes you can tend to overdo things if you\u2019re in that spot or mentality, but I think Jo\u2019s at a place now where he\u2019s comfortable with what he\u2019s doing. He knows what he has to do. He knows just being himself is plenty.\u201d<\/p>\n
Soler homered off L\u00f3pez in the first inning April 7, then was hit by a 96 mph fastball from the right-hander his next time up. In the fifth, Soler charged the mound after L\u00f3pez threw a high-and-inside wild pitch that tipped off catcher Jonah Heim\u2019s mitt.<\/p>\n
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At first, L\u00f3pez held up his hands as the two glared at each other before both started throwing punches.<\/p>\n
\u201cI asked him if everything was OK and the answer he gave me, I didn\u2019t like it,\u201d Soler said that night through an interpreter, according to MLB.com. \u201cThat\u2019s why I went out there.\u201d<\/p>\n
The benches and bullpens emptied as players from both teams tried to separate the two. Atlanta manager Walt Weiss was among those who tackled Soler, the 2021 World Series MVP with the Braves.<\/p>\n
L\u00f3pez was still holding the baseball when he landed a punch on Soler\u2019s batting helmet. The two were teammates in Atlanta during the second half of the 2024 season, and L\u00f3pez said through an interpreter there was \u201cnever any intent\u201d to plunk Soler.<\/p>\n
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Atlanta led 4-2 when the fight occurred and went on to a 7-2 victory.<\/p>\n
Soler\u2019s two-run shot in the first inning made him 14 for 23 with five homers and three doubles against L\u00f3pez.<\/p>\n
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