Daniel Cabrera begins suspension

BALTIMORE, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Baltimore Orioles pitcher Daniel Cabrera has begun serving a six-game suspension for hitting New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez.

The suspension was upheld Friday following Cabrera's appeal.

He was ejected and fined after throwing a pitch at Rodriguez's head in the eighth inning of an Orioles-Yankees game July 29.

Baltimore said on its Web site that Cabrera will serve the ban over the next two series and get back on the mound next Saturday against the Oakland Athletics.

"I'm really disappointed," said Cabrera, who leads all American League pitchers in walks, wild pitches and hit batsmen. "It looked like there were only two people that believed I was trying to hit A-Rod. I didn't try to hit anybody, but they found me with that and there's nothing I can do."

To date, Cabrera is 8-8 with a 5.24 ERA. In 171 2/3 innings, he has 79 walks and 93 strikeouts.