Vina's Gesture Costs Brewers

MILWAUKEE--Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Fernando Vina will appeal a two-game suspension for putting a finger in umpire Mike Winters' face while arguing balls and strikes.

The incident developed last Friday when Vina disputed a called third strike in a game in Pittsburgh.

"He [Winters] told me, 'I suppose you're going to say it's my fault,"' Vina told reporters before the Brewers' game last night with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"He didn't have to say that," Vina said. "That charged me up, I was just going to walk away."

Instead, Vina said he stayed to argue some more and had some minor physical contact, apparently touching Winters' cheek. He was ejected.

The National League said Vina was being suspended for two games and fined an undisclosed amount for excessive arguing of balls and strikes and for contact with the umpire.

The suspension was supposed to take effect Wednesday but will be held up while Vina appeals.