Jonathan Papelbon, the bad-boy closer of the Washington Nationals, found himself in trouble again this week, after an altercation with Manny Machado of the Baltimore Orioles. He threw a pitch near Machado's head Wednesday night, then hit Machado on the shoulder two pitches later. It led to an on-field brouhaha and Machado calling Papelbon a "coward" after the game.
And now it's also led to a three-game suspension and fine for Papelbon. Here's the verdict from MLB:
 | @MLB_PR | |
WSH RHP Papelbon has received a 3-gm suspension for intentionally throwing a pitch in the head area of Manny Machado. pic.twitter.com/TfgCgtmDA6
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Before the ninth-inning drama Wednesday night, Machado had hit a go-ahead homer off Nats starter Max Scherzer in the seventh inning. It's unclear if that's what prompted Papelbon to throw at Machado. It's assumed, although Papelbon hasn't said it outright. Instead, after the game he told James Wagner of the Washington Post: "Perception is reality. If Manny thinks I hit him, that's what he thinks." That's not the strongest defense, Pap.
Coincidentally, the Nats are playing the Philadelphia Phillies, Papelbon's old team, in a four-game series that begins Friday. He's spoken out against the Phillies after his summer trade to the Nats and in his return to Philly, he blew a save before the Nats came back to win.
Not one to miss out on a chance for more fireworks, Papelbon has already said he plans to appeal the league's suspension.
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