Winston Abreu was suspended for three games on Monday. (Jim Prisching/Associated Press) Cleveland Indians pitcher Winston Abreu received a three-game suspension Monday for intentionally hitting a batter on the weekend.
Abreu, 32, was disciplined for plunking Jack Hannahan in the shoulder with a pitch in the ninth inning of last Saturday's 10-3 win over the Seattle Mariners.
Abreu was promptly ejected from the game by plate umpire Dale Scott.
Indians manager Eric Wedge, who was tossed for arguing Abreu's ejection, was suspended for one game because Scott had already issued a warning to both teams.
"Obviously, what happened happened and it is part of the game," Wedge said. "They have rules pretty much set in place, regarding what they do after a warning is given, so it just comes with the territory.
"We're obviously playing one guy short, but we haven't used Winston a great deal. With what our starters have done the last week or so, that helps us."
It marked Abreu's third appearance for the Indians, who acquired him July 2 from the Tampa Bay Rays for fellow reliever John Meloan.
"Three days can be a little hard on us, but there is nothing I can do," Abreu said. "I didn't try to hit nobody.
"I was just trying to throw inside, like every pitcher does. I was just doing my thing.
"A lot of pitchers throw inside, but not to hit the batter. The umpire warned me.
"I know the other guy hit one of my teammates on purpose. Everybody could see that."
Abreu has pitched six innings this season, permitting eight runs — one unearned — on 10 hits and four walks with six strikeouts.
The Dominican right-hander is 0-1 with a 7.31 earned-run average in 38 relief appearances since he broke into the major leagues with the Baltimore Orioles on Aug. 6, 2006.
He pitched for the Washington Nationals in 2007.
With files from The Associated Press
