Manuel, Colon suspended

NEW YORK, May 21 (UPI) -- Embattled Chicago White Sox Manager Jerry Manuel and star righthander Bartolo Colon each received suspensions Wednesday stemming from an incident last Thursday against Baltimore.

Colon was suspended for five games and Manuel for one and both were fined for undisclosed amounts. Colon was ejected from last week's game for intentionally hitting Baltimore's Jerry Hairston Jr. in the top of the ninth inning. It came one inning after the Orioles' Jorge Julio plunked Chicago star Magglio Ordonez.

Colon did not hide the fact that he was trying to protect Ordonez.

"When a guy like Magglio gets hit, you've got to protect your teammate," Colon said through a interpreter after the game.

Manuel, who has seen his team struggle, is slated to serve his suspension Friday, missing a game with Detroit. The White Sox began play Wednesday 4 1/2 games first-place Minnesota in the American League Central Division.

Julio was not suspended, but was fined an undisclosed amount for his part in the incident.

All three parties can appeal their penalties.