San Francisco Giants reliever Hunter Strickland received a six-game suspension and Washington's Bryce Harper four games for their roles in a benches-clearing brawl at AT&T Park in San Francisco Monday.
Strickland, who was born in Thomaston, attended Pike County High School in Zebulon, where he also played quarterback.
Each also was fined an undisclosed amount. Major League Baseball said both players planned to appeal, so they were eligible to play in Tuesday night's game between the clubs. Baseball Senior Vice President Joe Garagiola Jr. typically hears player appeals.
"I'm obviously not thrilled about it," Strickland said. "It's their call. We'll go from there. Whatever they ultimately decide, I'll own it and take the responsibility."
Strickland hit Harper in the hip with a pitch and the Washington slugger charged the mound, wildly firing his helmet and trading punches to the head with Strickland during the Nationals' 3-0 win.
They had not faced each other since Harper hit two home runs off Strickland in the 2014 NL playoffs. "You never want to get suspended or anything like, but sometimes you just got to go and get them and can't hesitate," Harper said. "You either go to first base or you go after him and I decided to go after him."
Strickland had faced 541 hitters in his career and hit just four.
“Obviously, I’ve left the ball over the plate a couple of times on him and he’s taken advantage of that,” Strickland said. “Just going inside, and obviously I got it in too far.”
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