MLB Notes: Hunter Strickland's 6-game Suspension Upheld

ATLANTA -- San Francisco Giants pitcher Hunter Strickland began serving a six-game suspension Monday for brawling with Bryce Harper after his appeal was denied by Major League Baseball.

The penalty stemmed from a benches-clearing incident between the Giants and Washington Nationals on May 29.

Strickland plunked Harper on the right hip with a 98 mph fastball, igniting an eighth-inning fight that ended with Strickland being dragged to the Giants dugout by several teammates.

Harper was suspended for four games, which was reduced to three games after his appeal. He has already served the penalty.

John McHale Jr., a special assistant to baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, denied Strickland's appeal, which means the pitcher will miss all four games of a series set to begin Monday in Atlanta against the Braves, as well as the first two games of a weekend series in San Francisco against the New York Mets.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said he wasn't surprised by MLB's decision.

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"It's good to finally get this out of the way so we can focus on going forward," he said before Monday's game at SunTrust Park. "That's six games we don't have him. We knew this was coming" (see full story).

Reds: Arroyo, Cozart placed on disabled list
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Cincinnati Reds have placed Bronson Arroyo on the 10-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder, one day after the 40-year-old right-hander said there is a possibility his career might be over.

Cincinnati also put shortstop Zack Cozart on the 10-day DL Monday due to a strained right quadriceps.

Arroyo gave up five runs and seven hits in just three innings Sunday as the Reds lost 8-7 to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Arroyo (3-6) is attempting a comeback this season with his former team after missing 2 seasons with arm and shoulder problems, including Tommy John surgery and a procedure on his shoulder. He said after Sunday's outing, "Have I thought `This time might be my last time on the field?' Yeah."

"Now, it's just a matter of seeing where this goes, to define the source of the pain, and really kind of figure out what's in his best interest," Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price said. "We haven't even really got to the point to really talking about what the future holds for Bronson. We just realized that he does need to go on the DL, and we have time now to kind of reassess."

Cozart is hitting .320 with nine homers and 33 RBIs in 58 games this season. The injury has slowed him for the past few weeks and was further aggravated while running to first Saturday.

"It's just getting to a point where it's just smart to take a couple days and let it calm down, get that swelling out of there," Cozart said (see full story).

Orioles: Hardy placed on DL with broken wrist
BALTIMORE -- Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy was placed on the 10-day disabled list Monday with a broken bone in his right wrist, an injury that will keep him sidelined four to six weeks.

Surgery will not be required, but Hardy can't participate in baseball activities until the wrist has fully healed.

Hardy was injured Sunday when hit by a pitch from Lance Lynn in the fourth inning of Baltimore's 8-5 win over St. Louis. Hardy remained in the game initially, then was replaced by Ruben Tejada in the sixth.

"I realized there was zero chance I was going to be able to hold a bat, so there was no point staying in," Hardy said Monday, his arm in a soft cast.

Though Hardy was batting only .211, he was on a 7-for-23 streak that added 10 points to his batting average after working with batting coach Scott Coolbaugh.

"We basically started with a clean slate, just started focusing on what needed to be done in the swing," Hardy said. "I was right on my way to getting out of the little slump I was in, and then this happens" (see full story).

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