Victorino expecting punishment for part in brawl

$Shane Victorino pushes home plate umpire Mike Muchlinski out of his way during the Friday night fracas in San Francisco.$

Shane Victorino pushes home plate umpire Mike Muchlinski out of his way during the Friday night fracas in San Francisco. (JED JACOBSOHN / Getty Images)

By Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted: August 07, 2011

SAN FRANCISCO - A day later, they were still watching. The images were played on TVs, video equipment in the Phillies clubhouse, and Shane Victorino's iPad.

"It was a regular brawl," Placido Polanco said. "It's not the first one, and it's not going to be the last one."

That didn't prevent smiles and a swell of confidence Saturday. The repercussions from Friday's fight night may not come until Monday from the commissioner's office, but Victorino is expecting a suspension for his actions.

Victorino said he clinched it when he reentered the fracas during the sixth inning of the Phillies' 9-2 rout and tackled Giants hitting coach Hensley Meulens. (Victorino said he wasn't going after the 44-year-old coach on purpose. He said he saw Carlos Ruiz in danger and torpedoed in the catcher's general direction.)

The centerfielder also tried to push home plate umpire Mike Muchlinski out of his way several times.

But Victorino, just as he did Friday night, maintained that everything escalated only because of Giants catcher Eli Whiteside's actions.

"I had no intentions of going out there and charging the mound," Victorino said. "I just wanted to go get an answer. I did step forward, and Eli, from looking at his reaction, thought I was going to go. Then [Placido] Polanco came in and he tackled Polanco. Everything escalated from there. I had no intention."

Giants manager Bruce Bochy defended his catcher Saturday.

"He's in a hard spot there," Bochy said. "He's got all kinds of sides to cover there. He's trying to protect the pitcher. If anybody knows Whitey, he's not a fighter - but he's going to protect his pitchers. He saw a player come from the side there and went at his feet, but it wasn't like he was throwing punches or anything."

As for the pitcher, Ramon Ramirez, he declined to comment about the incident. Whiteside claimed he called for a fastball inside, "but not that far inside."

The plunking came shortly after Jimmy Rollins stole second base in a six-run game, but Charlie Manuel disagreed that that had any part in escalating tensions. Rollins was being held on at first base, so nothing was conceded.

"I think us hitting them upset them," Manuel said.

Carlos Beltran had a different view of Rollins' steal.

"I wouldn't have done it," the Giants rightfielder said.

Contact staff writer Matt Gelb

at mgelb@phillynews.com or @magelb on Twitter.