WASHINGTON — Orioles third baseman Manny Machado was suspended five games by Major League Baseball on Tuesday for his role in a bench-clearing incident in Baltimore over the weekend.
On Sunday, Machado released his bat following a swing, hurling it into the field of play. The incident occurred after a pair of inside pitches from Oakland Athletics left-handed pitcher Fernando Abad. After both benches and bullpens cleared onto the field, both Machado and Abad were ejected. Both players have been fined by MLB.
Earlier in the game, Machado had twice hit Oakland catcher Derek Norris in the mask with his bat on the exaggerated follow-through of his swing. The latter knocked Norris out of the game.
Those events were precipitated by another incident on Friday, in which Machado was tagged out between second and third base by Oakland third baseman Josh Donaldson. Machado fell while trying to avoid the tag, throwing his helmet to the ground in Donaldson’s direction on his way to the ground.
Machado has already announced his intention to appeal the suspension.
