Kansas City, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Major League Baseball has suspended Kansas City Royals pitcher Kelvin Herrera for five games and fined pitcher Yordano Ventura for retaliating against Oakland's Brett Lawrie over the weekend.
Lawrie drew the ire of Kansas City when his hard slide to break up a double play injured Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar in Friday's series opener. After missing Saturday and Sunday's games against the A's, Escobar returned to the lineup Monday against Minnesota.
In Saturday's game, Ventura plunked Lawrie in the side with Oakland leading 5-0 in the fourth inning and was promptly ejected. The amount of his fine was not disclosed.
In the eighth inning of Sunday's game, Herrera threw a pitch behind Lawrie's shoulders and was ejected. When being escorted off the field, Herrera shouted at Lawrie while pointing to his head. In addition to the suspension, he faces an undisclosed fine.
Herrera's suspension will begin immediately. If he appeals, the suspension will not begin until the appeals process has taken place.
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