Red Sox Ryan Dempster Gets 5 Games For Plunking A-Rod

Boston Red Sox starter Ryan Dempster insisted he “was trying to pitch him inside,” to Alex Rodriguez , but Major League Baseball had a different take and suspended Dempster for five games for hitting A-Rod with a pitch in the second inning of a game against the New York Yankees on Sunday.

Dempster, who was also fined an undisclosed amount, was not ejected from the game.

Yankees manager was ejected. “You can’t start throwing at people,” Girardi said Sunday night, and reiterated Tuesday morning.

“Whether you like me or hate, that was wrong,” Rodriguez told reporters Sunday night. “That was unprofessional and silly. It was kind of a silly way to get someone hurt on your team as well.”

It was the first time in Dempster’s 16-year career, according to the Boston Herald, that Dempster hit a batter on a 3-and-0 count.

Dempster is scheduled to pitch on Saturday against the Los Angeles Dodgers but could appeal the suspension, then withdraw the appeal, which is typical in cases like these.