MINNEAPOLIS – Twins starting pitcher Scott Diamond has dropped his appeal and will begin serving a six-game suspension on Wednesday.
Diamond was suspended after last Thursday's game in Texas, when he threw a what was determined to be a retaliatory pitch near Josh Hamilton's head in the bottom of the third inning of the Twins' 10-6 loss. Diamond's throw came after Rangers starter Roy Oswalt hit Joe Mauer on the back in the top of that same inning.
Prior to the next day's game, Hamilton said he didn't believe Diamond was throwing at him, simply that the pitch got away from the Twins starter. Diamond went on to appeal the suspension, and he started Tuesday's 5-2 Twins loss to the Mariners. Now that he has dropped the appeal, Diamond will miss his next start and leave the Twins without their best starting pitcher for the next six games.
On the season, Diamond has a 3.21 ERA since being called up from Triple-A Rochester in May. He has a 10-6 record, but the Twins have lost his last four starts.
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