Twins left-hander Scott Diamond has been suspended six games after he threw behind the head of Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton on Thursday, Major League Baseball announced on Friday. Diamond will appeal, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Rangers starter Roy Oswalt had earlier hit Joe Mauer and in the bottom half of the third inning with a 3-0 pitch. In the top of the inning, Diamond retaliated, throwing behind Hamilton, the second batter of the inning. Diamond was immediately ejected, as was Twins manager Ron Gardenhire who came out to argue.
Here's the video:
In the video, the announcers say umpire Wally Bell probably didn't want to toss Diamond, but had been told by Major League Baseball that he must in those situations. Bell denied it on Thursday.
"Any time in an umpire's judgement that they go in the head area, we have to take care of business," Bell told a pool reporter (via the St. Paul Pioneer-Press). "I felt at the time that he had to be ejected to it."
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