Boston Red Sox' Matt Barnes suspended 4 games for throwing at Baltimore Orioles' Manny Machado

Boston Red Sox right-hander Matt Barnes was suspended four games and fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball on Monday for intentionally throwing a pitch in the area of the head of Baltimore Orioles star Manny Machado.

Barnes, who was ejected after the pitch in the eighth inning on Saturday, has decided to appeal the suspension. Therefore, the discipline issued to the 26-year-old Barnes will be held in abeyance until the process in complete.

Barnes' offering may have been in retaliation to Machado's slide into second base that sidelined four-time All-Star second baseman Dustin Pedroia in the series opener on Friday. Pedroia has missed his team's last two games and is considered day to day with a calf and ankle injury.

Barnes has posted a 2-0 record with a 3.60 ERA in nine appearances this season.