Baseball Guru
10-03-2001, 07:30 PM
NEW YORK -- Colorado Rockies left-hander Mike Hampton was suspended for five games and fined by the commissioner's office for intentionally throwing at Arizona starter Randy Johnson.
Hampton hit Johnson in the seventh inning of Arizona's 10-1 victory Tuesday night. The suspension was to start Wednesday, meaning Hampton would miss the remainder of the season unless he appeals.
Johnson hit Colorado's Larry Walker in the back with a 94 mph fastball in the first inning, the second time Johnson hit him in as many at-bats. When Walker was hit Sept. 17 at Colorado, he left the game with an elbow injury and missed three games.
Hampton later hit Johnson in the side with a pitch, resulting in a warning to both dugouts.
"It's just part of the game. If anyone understands that, they've got a veteran team and they understand it," Hampton said after the game. "They hit our best player two times in a row. It probably wasn't on purpose, but that's part of the game, protecting our players."
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Hampton hit Johnson in the seventh inning of Arizona's 10-1 victory Tuesday night. The suspension was to start Wednesday, meaning Hampton would miss the remainder of the season unless he appeals.
Johnson hit Colorado's Larry Walker in the back with a 94 mph fastball in the first inning, the second time Johnson hit him in as many at-bats. When Walker was hit Sept. 17 at Colorado, he left the game with an elbow injury and missed three games.
Hampton later hit Johnson in the side with a pitch, resulting in a warning to both dugouts.
"It's just part of the game. If anyone understands that, they've got a veteran team and they understand it," Hampton said after the game. "They hit our best player two times in a row. It probably wasn't on purpose, but that's part of the game, protecting our players."
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service