Victorino's suspension cut to two games

Shane Victorino's suspension was trimmed from three games to two after his appeal to Major League Baseball.

The Phillies centerfielder, who has been on a hitting tear, began his suspension Thursday night as he sat out the game against Arizona. He was replaced in center field by John Mayberry Jr.

Victorino declined to comment on the suspension. He was suspended for his role in a bench-clearing brawl Aug. 5 against the Giants in San Francisco.

After he was hit by a pitch from Ramon Ramirez in the sixth inning, Victorino took a couple of steps toward the mound. Giants catcher Eli Whiteside stepped in front of Victorino and bounced on his toes as if he were a boxer. Then he tried to tackle Placido Polanco.

Both Ramirez and Whiteside were fined, but neither was suspended. Polanco also was fined.

It's likely Victorino was suspended because he pushed umpire Mike Muchlinski out of his way and ran into a group of players who were in a scrum. Muchlinski was trying to restrain Victorino.

Victorino also will miss Friday's game at Washington. He is on a seven-game hitting streak during which he is batting .414 (12 for 29).