Twins Lefty To Serve Six-Game Suspension For Throwing At Hamilton

It was announced last Friday that Twins’ lefty Scott Diamond had been suspended six games by Major League Baseball for throwing at Josh Hamilton in Thursday’s matchup between Texas and Minnesota, a decision that was quickly appealed by Diamond.

On Wednesday, however, Diamond dropped his appeal, meaning he will serve the six games (though that’s just one start) as planned. The suspension will begin today. Diamond started on Tuesday.

It’s generally accepted that the fastball that sailed over and behind Hamilton’s head last Thursday was a purpose pitch, retaliation for Roy Oswalt drilling the Twins’ best hitter, Joe Mauer. After the pitch, which came in the bottom of the third, Diamond was ejected without a warning.

Homeplate umpire Wally Bell explained his decision to toss Diamond shortly thereafter, saying basically that the move was motivated by the location of the pitch--the proximity to Hamilton’s noodle.

For his part, Diamond denied that he was throwing at Hamilton in the immediate aftermath of the game, but clearly, the league didn’t see it that way.