Written by USAToday.com
Baltimore Orioles All-Star third baseman Manny Machado likely assured himself a multi-game suspension when he charged the mound and landed a punch on Kansas City Royals starter Yordano Ventura, who a moment earlier drilled Machado in the back with a pitch.
Both players were ejected during the fifth-inning incident Tuesday at Camden Yards, which came one at bat after Machado lingered at home plate to see if a fly ball to left ended up a home run. It resulted in a fly out, and Ventura and Machado exchanged words. There was little ambiguous about Ventura’s first pitch to Machado the next time up, and Ventura quickly dropped his glove and awaited the charging Machado, who appeared to land a right hand to the pitcher’s cheek.
Machado and Ventura ended up at the bottom of a pile, but order was restored relatively soon, and no other players or managers were ejected. It also did not appear that neither bench was warned by home plate umpire Manny Gonzalez.
Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor recently served a seven-game suspension – reduced by a game upon appeal after he landed a punch in a standoff with Toronto’s Jose Bautista.
The early sentiment from the Orioles clubhouse indicates that Machado’s punishment may well be worth it. Center fielder Adam Jones, in fact, said he’d pay Machado’s fine from Major League Baseball.
“You throw 100 mph and you are trying to hurt someone intentionally, that is not part of the game,” Jones told reporters after Baltimore’s 9-1 victory. “You see the reaction by his players, they weren’t too happy that he did something so stupid. I’m glad for Manny for defending himself.
“Screw it, defend yourself. Someone is trying to hurt you maliciously, you go out there and defend yourself. I hope the league reviews what happened. When you have a weapon at 100 mph and you don’t have to hit, and you are trying to hurt somebody, that is not part of the game.
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