​CHICAGO (AP) — Boston Red Sox outfielder Nate Eaton’s initial three-game suspension for his role in a dugout-clearing confrontation with Washington last week has been reduced to two games. The Red Sox announced the lighter penalty on Tuesday and said Eaton would begin serving the suspension against the White Sox that evening in the opening game of a three-game series in Chicago.
Eaton received discipline after a scuffle with Nationals pitcher Miles Mikolas during a game in Boston on June 30, an altercation that ended with both players being ejected. The incident began after Willson Contreras confronted a remark made by pitcher Cade Cavalli and charged the mound, throwing his helmet in retaliation. Cavalli and Contreras had each been initially suspended seven games, with both appealing, as did Eaton and Mikolas, who received a five-game suspension. Cavalli has accepted a reduced suspension of five games, while Eaton agreed to a one-game reduction. Appeals from Contreras and Mikolas were still pending as of Tuesday, and Contreras—who was in the lineup against the White Sox after learning he had been named an All-Star replacement for Vladimir Guerrero Jr.—remained part of the team’s plans.
The 29-year-old Eaton has appeared in 12 games for Boston this season, sometimes stepping in for Jarren Duran against left-handed pitching. He has a .143 batting average with one home run, two doubles, and two stolen bases.