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The suspension of Reading Railbirds’ starting pitcher Garrett Starks for nine games surprised no one after Thursday’s bench clearing brawl.

After beaning Death Valley’s Daniel Quinones with a fastball in the 2nd inning, the outfielder charged the mound while screaming at Starks.

The muscular Starks has trained with MMA fighters for years, and responded by reflexively dropping into a fighting stance. Starks then delivered a crisp forearm strike to the side of Quinones’ neck, a technique commonly referred to as a “brachial plexus stun.”

Staggered by the blow, Quinones dropped to the ground and appeared dazed for a minute or so, before shaking his head and rejoining the melee.

An unnamed Railbirds’ teammate remarked: “I am not sure if that Quinones guy is extremely courageous or an idiot. It is common knowledge around the league that Starks is a bad a$$ and definitely the last guy you want to fight.”

Starks had no comment on the incident.

In place of Starks in the Railbirds’ rotation, Ray Miller will start Saturday’s game against San Jose.