CHICAGO, July 18 - Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee sat out Wednesday's game against the San Francisco Giants as he dropped his appeal and began a five-game suspension for his role in a brawl with the Padres.

After getting hit by a pitch from San Diego hurler Chris Young in the June 16 game, Lee had words with the right-hander and threw a punch at him. Young threw a counter-punch and both benches emptied.

Lee told reporters he decided to start serving the suspension since his left ankle was sore after fouling off a pitch on it in Tuesday's game.

Lee, batting .337 with eight homers and 48 runs batted in, will also miss Thursday's game against San Francisco and then three home games against the Arizona Diamondbacks this weekend.