MLB suspends Orioles' Manny Machado for 5 games for throwing bat

Manny Machado has to be restrained after a benches-clearing scuffle with the Athletics. (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)

MLB suspended Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado for five games and fined him an undisclosed amount for throwing his bat down the third base line during a game against the Oakland Athletics on Sunday, MLB announced Tuesday.

Machado got into a verbal altercation with A's third baseman Josh Donaldson at the beginning of the teams' three game series on Friday and saw two inside pitches from Oakland reliever Fernando Abad before releasing his bat up the third baseline.

The second-year player said the bat slipped from his hands, but the incident caused both benches to clear.

The 21-year old is expected to appeal the suspension allowing him to play until he has had a hearing with Major League Baseball. Machado apologized for role in the incident.

"When things happen like this, you're definitely going to learn,"  Machado said. "It's going to make me a better player and it's going to make me a better man. Looking forward, I hope I learn from it and don't make the same mistake."

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