New Haven, Conn. ? The minor-league pitcher involved in the fight for which Jose Offerman is facing two counts of second-degree assault after charging the mound with a bat, has been suspended for his role in the incident.

The independent Atlantic League also fined Matt Beech of the Bridgeport Bluefish an undisclosed amount. Beech planned to appeal, his attorney, John Robert Gulash, said.

Long Island Ducks catcher Jared Price also was fined and suspended two games.

Beech hit Offerman with a pitch Aug. 14, and the former major-league All-Star infielder, who had homered in his first at-bat, charged the mound. During the ensuing melee, the middle finger on Beech’s non-throwing hand was broken and Bridgeport catcher John Nathans suffered a concussion.

Offerman, playing for Long Island, was charged with two counts of second-degree assault. He was suspended by the league pending the resolution of his legal case.

Offerman was originally due in Bridgeport Superior Court on Thursday. His appearance was continued until Sept. 24.

An attorney for Offerman said Tuesday his client should not have been arrested for the attack, challenging charges that he struck Beech and Nathans with his bat.

“I think a mistake was made by him charging the mound with a bat in his hand,” attorney Frank Riccio said. “But after that, everything is a blur.”

Riccio said Beech could have been injured when he punched Offerman in the head, adding Nathans appeared to grab the arm Offerman was using to hold the bat.

“We dispute the fact that any contact was made with the bat,” Riccio said. “It’s as likely these two players got injured in the melee that followed the incident as opposed to the baseball bat incident.

“I think baseball polices itself very well. I think it should be left to baseball to decide what should be done.”

Nathans has been sidelined since the incident and may miss the remainder of the season.

“Our client remembers getting hit in the head with the bat,” said Michael Koskoff, Nathans’ attorney. “He felt the bat hit his head.”

Gulash said it was a serious incident either way.

“My only observation would be is Mr. Offerman indicating he simply attempted to commit an assault in the second degree as opposed to actually fully completing an assault in the second degree?” Gulash said.

Beech said after the incident: “He swung the first time at my head and it was kind of like a helicopter follow-through, and I believe that is when John got hit in the back of the head.”