Some suspensions and fines have been dished out for Tuesday night’s rumble in the Bronx between the Fightin’ Jays and Bombers.

Yankees catcher Jorge Posada and Jays reliever Jesse Carlson — the two at the heart of the fracas — were each dealt four-game suspensions and fined $3,000 by the league.

Carlson said that he told Blue Jays player rep Vernon Wells that he did not feel he deserved as much as Posada and a few minutes later, Wells called Carlson and said the suspension had been reduced to three games and the fine was also trimmed. Carlson will begin sitting out Wednesday.

Word is that Posada’s suspension will also begin Wednesday and has also been cut down to three games — not four. Fines were also handed to Yankees pitcher Edwar Ramirez — maybe to replace Rod Barajas’ mangled chest protector? — and hitting coach Kevin Long.

New York’s Shelley Duncan has also been suspended three games and fined. Blue Jays catcher Barajas also received a $1,000 fine, but he said he plans on appealing. Rod’s fine was for “verbal abuse”, but he said he was not given further explanation and he planned on appealing.

As for that one replay that appeared to show mild-mannered John McDonald taking a swing at Yanks skip Joe Girardi, they both insist it did not happen. Girardi called Johnny Mac a “peacemaker” and a “good man” and the pair met on the field before Wednesday’s game to talk things over. McDonald was trying to pull players off the pile and the one camera angle made it look like he swung at the manager.

Today’s lineups:

TORONTO BLUE JAYS (66-79)
Fourth place AL East, 26.5 GB

1. Marco Scutaro, SS
2. Aaron Hill, 2B
3. Adam Lind, DH
4. Vernon Wells, CF
5. Lyle Overbay, 1B
6. Edwin Encarnacion, 3B
7. Rod Barajas, C
8. Jose Bautista, RF
9. Travis Snider, LF

Starter: LHP Brian Tallet (7-9, 5.26)

NEW YORK YANKEES (93-53)
First place AL East, – GB

1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Jerry Hairston Jr., LF
3. Mark Teixeira, 1B
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Hideki Matsui, DH
6. Nick Swisher, RF
7. Robinson Cano, 2B
8. Melky Cabrera, CF
9. Jose Molina, C

Starter: RHP Chad Gaudin (1-0, 3.42)

Don’t forget, you can follow me on Twitter: @MLBastian

~JB

After a little more than two weeks away from the ballpark, I’m back on the Blue Jays beat down the stretch. It was a wonderful little break, considering my wife and I welcomed our first son, Hayden Charles Bastian, into the world on September 1.

Thanks to all who sent me congrats notes via Twitter, blog and e-mail. I didn’t respond to very many, but all were received and appreciated. But, after spending the last weeks at home with the fam, it’s time to get back to work and finish out this ’09 season.

As for the Jays, not a whole lotta news to speak of this evening. Joe Inglett is still day-to-day with sore ribs, Jeremy Accardo has been fighting a flu bug for the past couple days and catcher Kyle Phillips will likely be behind the plate again for lefty David Purcey on Monday.

As for tonight? It’s a familiar lineup with Doc on the hill in the Bronx. Not a bad way to kick off my return to the pressbox.

Today’s lineups:

TORONTO BLUE JAYS (65-79)
Fourth place AL East, 27.5 GB

1. Marco Scutaro, SS
2. Aaron Hill, 2B
3. Adam Lind, DH
4. Vernon Wells, CF
5. Lyle Overbay, 1B
6. Edwin Encarnacion, 3B
7. Rod Barajas, C
8. Jose Bautista, RF
9. Travis Snider, LF

Starter: RHP Roy Halladay (14-9, 3.03)

NEW YORK YANKEES (93-52)
First place AL East, – GB

1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Johnny Damon, LF
3. Mark Teixeira, 1B
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Hideki Matsui, DH
6. Jorge Posada, C
7. Robinson Cano, 2B
8. Nick Swisher, RF
9. Brett Gardner, CF

Starter: RHP Sergio Mitre (3-2, 7.02)

Don’t forget, you can follow me on Twitter: @MLBastian

~JB