Twins P Diamond drops appeal

Minneapolis, MN – Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Scott Diamond dropped his appeal and began serving his six-game suspension, the team announced on Wednesday.

The suspension stems from an incident last Thursday when he threw a pitch at the head of Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton.

As Hamilton came to the plate with out in the bottom of the third inning, he said something to catcher Joe Mauer. Diamond's first pitch went over the head of Hamilton.

Home plate umpire Wally Bell immediately ejected Diamond and then Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, who came out of the dugout to argue.

In the top of the third, Mauer was hit square in the upper back on a 3-0 pitch from Rangers starter Roy Oswalt.

Diamond is 10-6 with a 3.21 ERA in 21 starts this year. He pitched on Tuesday and gave up five runs over seven innings in a 5-2 loss to the Mariners.