Blue Jays' Cabrera appealing 3-game ban for role in bench-clearing incident with Rays

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Genesis Cabrera has received a three-game suspension and fined for his role in a bench-clearing incident in a 5-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Saturday.

The amount of the fine of was undisclosed. However, Cabrera has filed an appeal so the discipline will be held in abeyance until the appeal process is complete.

Rays shortstop Jose Caballero drove in a run with a bunt single and continued around the bases on third baseman Justin Turner's throwing error. After Caballero was tagged out at third for the final out of the inning, Cabrera, who was backing up third base, exchanged words with Caballero and shoved the infielder. Cabrera was ejected.

"I will say it was more like the heat of the moment," Cabrera said through an interpreter. "I mean, I think we all kind of overreact a little bit. … He kind of looked at me and I just react. … It's part of the game sometimes, but it's over with. It's where it ends, right there."

Caballero's momentum caused him to bump into Cabrera leading to the exchange of words.

Caballero did not retaliate but both benches cleared with no other skirmishes taking place.

Cabrera, 27, allowed one run on two hits in one inning of a no-decision on Saturday. He owns a 14-11 record with a 4.00 earned-run average in 204 career games (two starts) with the St. Louis Cardinals and Blue Jays.

Toronto plays Tampa Bay in the final of its four-game series on Sunday.

The Minnesota Twins announced Saturday that right-hander Anthony DeSclafani underwent surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his forearm and would miss the entire season.

DeSclafani, who the Toronto Blue Jays chose in the sixth round of the 2011 MLB draft, was expected to fill out the back of the rotation before he was diagnosed with