Nationals’ Cavalli suspended seven games after ‘Sit down, boy’ comment sparks brawl

• Red Sox's Contreras also given seven-game ban

• Pitcher apologized for remark, racial overtones

• Bench-clearing fracas resulted in four ejections

Major League Baseball suspended Washington Nationals starting pitcher Cade Cavalli and Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras seven games each on Thursday for their roles in a benches-clearing incident on Tuesday in Boston.

MLB also suspended Nationals right-hander Miles Mikolas for five games and Red Sox outfielder Nate Eaton for three for their actions during the incident at Fenway Park. The four players each were fined an undisclosed amount as part of the discipline.