NEW YORK - Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura was suspended nine games and Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado was penalized four games Thursday after their brawl earlier this week.
Major League Baseball also fined each player an undisclosed amount.
This is the second straight season Ventura has been suspended - he drew a seven-game ban last year after an altercation with the White Sox.
''It's just kind of tough when you have to play short because of something that someone else kind of got going,'' Orioles manager Buck Showalter said before Thursday night's game at Toronto.
On Tuesday night in Baltimore, Ventura hit Machado in the back with a 99 mph fastball in the fifth inning. Machado charged the mound and punched Ventura in the head as the benches emptied. Ventura and Machado both have appealed their suspensions. They can continue to play until the process is complete.
''They came up with a decision and obviously I'm going to appeal it,'' Machado said. ''We'll see what happens.''
It's the second career suspension for Machado, who sat out five games in 2014 after throwing his bat toward third base following an inside pitch from Oakland's Fernando Abad. Machado appealed that suspension but the penalty was upheld.
The trouble between Ventura and Machado started earlier in the game. Machado got brushed back by two fastballs, then flied out and had words with Ventura. The next time up, Machado was hit.
A talented hard thrower who can be temperamental, Ventura got into skirmishes with the Angels and the Athletics early last season before his dustup with the White Sox led to a suspension.
