Boston Red Sox pitcher Matt Barnes has been suspended four games and fined an undisclosed amount for throwing near the head of Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney and media reports.
The incident occurred in the eighth inning of Sunday’s Red Sox vs. Orioles matchup, which prompted the Boston relief pitcher to be ejected from the contest.
The errant pitch was believed by many to be intentional in the aftermath of Machado’s spiking of Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia.
The Orioles third baseman injured Pedroia’s knee with a harsh slide into second base in the eighth inning of Friday’s game and Pedroia has been sidelined ever since.
Though Barnes’ pitch looked like a retaliation attempt, the Boston relief pitcher vehemently denied intent.
The suspension is set to begin Tuesday when the Red Sox host the New York Yankees at Fenway Park, but Barnes reportedly has appealed the suspension.
Eduardo Rodriguez, who was the Red Sox starter Sunday, appears to have avoided discipline.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
