Gooden, Leyland Penalized : Baseball: Pirates’ Walk also suspended for incident involving Dodgers’ Gross.

NEW YORK — Pitchers Dwight Gooden of the New York Mets and Bob Walk of Pittsburgh, and Pirate Manager Jim Leyland were suspended Friday by the National League for incidents involving hit batters.

NL President Bill White suspended Gooden for five games for hitting Cincinnati’s Brian Koelling last Monday at Shea Stadium. Gooden and Walk, also suspended for five games for hitting Kevin Gross of the Dodgers on Tuesday night, have appealed and will remain active.

“I think it’s too harsh, but I totally respect Bill White and his position,” Leyland said of the suspension. “He was outstanding. He’s just doing what he thinks he has to do.”

Leyland’s six-game suspension began Friday night. He will be eligible to return to the dugout next Thursday.

Hitting coach Milt May ran the Pirates on Friday night against San Diego.

“I’m embarrassed about the incident and about being suspended,” Leyland said. “I don’t regret what I did because of the situation, but I’m not proud of it, either.

“I don’t want to see our young players abused, but you can’t charge a player.”

Gooden, Walk and Leyland also were fined an undisclosed amount.