New York, NY (My Sportsbook) - New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza and Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Guillermo Mota were each suspended five- games for their part in a bench-clearing brawl between the two teams last week.

Both players were also fined an undisclosed amount for their part in the incident. Mets outfielder Jeremy Burnitz was also fined for acting aggressively during the on-field fight.

Piazza and Mota will both begin serving their suspensions on March 31, the corresponding date of each team's regular-season opener. Piazza will miss the Mets opener against the Chicago Cubs, while the Dodgers open their season at Arizona.

Piazza and Mota were involved in a brawl during the Dodgers' 13-6 exhibition win last week. Piazza charged Mota in the sixth after being hit in the shoulder with a pitch. The former Dodger catcher was hit on the second pitch of his at-bat, dropped his bat and rushed towards Mota. The pitcher threw his glove at Piazza, then retreated into the Los Angeles dugout.

The two had an altercation in spring training last year. After Mota hit Piazza in the hip with a pitch, Piazza waited until the end of the inning and grabbed the pitcher's shirt.

This is the second heavy suspension levied by Vice President of On-Field Operations for Major League Baseball Bob Watson in the last week. Watson also slapped Florida Marlins pitcher Brad Penny with a five game suspension, Montreal outfielder Vladimir Guerrero with a three game ban and Expos infielder Jose Macias two games for their part in a bench-clearing spring training brawl between the two teams.