The Royals announced Saturday that starting pitcher Yordano Ventura will begin serving an eight-game suspension for his role in a bench-clearing brawl against the Orioles on June 7.
Ventura plunked Orioles shortstop Manny Machado in the lower back with a 99-mph fastball in the fifth inning of the Orioles' 9-1 win over the Royals, immediately igniting a brawl as Machado charged the mound. As soon as Ventura hit Machado, he dropped his glove and removed his cap as he stepped off the mound and waited for the charging Machado.
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Ventura was initially given a nine-game suspension, but it was reduced by one game following an appeal.