NEW YORK (AP) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels has been suspended five games for intentionally throwing at Washington
rookie Bryce Harper.
Major League Baseball announced the penalty Monday. Hamels also
was fined.
Hamels plunked Harper in the small of the back with a fastball in the first inning Sunday night. The Phillies won 9-3 and Hamels admitted that he deliberately threw at Harper.
Hamels said the purpose pitch was his old-school way of welcoming the 19-year-old Nationals phenom to the big leagues.
Unless appealed, Hamels was scheduled to begin serving his
suspension Monday night when the Phillies hosted the New York Mets.
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