New York, NY – Boston Red Sox pitcher Ryan Dempster has been suspended five games and fined an undisclosed amount for intentionally throwing at Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez.
Dempster hit Rodriguez with a pitch in the top of the second inning of Sunday's game at Fenway Park. The right-hander's first offering went behind Rodriguez and the next two pitches were inside before the fourth hit Rodriguez.
The benches and dugouts briefly cleared while Yankees manager Joe Girardi vehemently argued with umpire Brian O'Nora, who did not eject Dempster and instead issued warnings to both teams. Girardi, who was visibly upset and ejected, was also fined on Tuesday.
Dempster said after the contest that he was trying to pitch Rodriguez inside and was not trying to hit the embattled slugger.
Many opposing players have voiced their displeasure over the status of Rodriguez, who is playing while appealing a 211-game suspension as part of Major League Baseball's Biogenesis investigation.
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