Red Sox pitcher Matt Barnes suspended four games for throwing around Manny Machado's head

Boston Red Sox pitcher Matt Barnes was suspended four games by Major League Baseball for his errant pitch behind Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado’s head during Sunday’s game, Joe Torre, chief baseball officer, announced on Monday.

Barnes, who was ejected after the pitch in the eighth inning, has decided to appeal and will remain eligible to pitch until the process is complete.

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The pitch may have been in retaliation for Machado’s slide into second base that took out Dustin Pedroia during Friday’s game. Pedroia was injured and removed from the game after he was spiked by Machado as Machado slid into second during a double play.

The rivalry between the Red Sox and Orioles was heated over the weekend and will continue next Monday in Boston when the O’s visit Fenway Park for a four-game series.

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