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Quentin drops appeal, to sit out Dodgers series

 
Carlos Quentin says he had a right to “protect myself.”
Carlos Quentin says he had a right to “protect myself.”
Published April 15, 2013

SAN DIEGO — Padres OF Carlos Quentin on Sunday dropped his appeal and began serving an eight-game suspension for rushing the mound and inciting a brawl in which Dodgers RHP Zack Greinke broke his left collarbone.

With the suspension starting with Sunday's game against Colorado, Quentin will miss the Padres' three-game series at Dodger Stadium beginning tonight.

"There's been many different ideas and thoughts and concerns out there," Quentin said. "Let me say this as far as the Dodgers series: Obviously I will miss the upcoming one but I will be a part of the rest. We play them many times."

Quentin charged the mound after he was hit in the upper left arm by a pitch from Greinke. The players lowered their shoulders and Quentin slammed into Greinke, who broke his left collarbone in the wild fight that ensued.

Quentin has said he felt justified rushing the mound because Greinke hit him with pitches in 2008 and 2009, when they played in the AL. Going into Thursday's game, Quentin had hit three home runs in 24 at-bats against Greinke.

"It's very difficult," Quentin said of the suspension. "It's unfortunate that someone got hurt in this instance. But I do believe that I had to protect myself. And I will stand by that statement and at the same time I will begin my suspension."

REPLACING REYES: The Blue Jays are experimenting with playing Brett Lawrie at second base as a way to deal with an ankle injury that will keep Jose Reyes out until the All-Star break. Toronto GM Alex Anthopoulos said Lawrie, on rehab with Class A Dunedin, will play at second the next few games. Lawrie has played most of his career at third, though he played some second while in the Brewers' farm system. The move would allow Maicer Izturis to take Reyes' place at shortstop.

WILD PITCH MARK: The Cubs tied a major-league record when RHPs Edwin Jackson, a former Ray, and Michael Bowden combined to throw five wild pitches in the sixth. Jackson threw two and Bowden three. "It's unexcusable to let your team down like that,'' Jackson said. In other Cubs news, C Steve Clevenger went on the 60-day disabled list because of a strained left abdomen. RHP Kameron Loe was claimed off waivers from the Mariners. Also, RH reliever Kevin Gregg agreed to a minor-league deal.

EX-D'BACK RETIRES: 1B Conor Jackson, a former starter for Arizona who was playing for the Orioles' Triple-A Norfolk affiliate, decided to retire. Jackson, 30, was diagnosed in 2009 with valley fever, which nearly ended his career.

INDIANS: CF Michael Bourn is going to miss several games after receiving five stitches to close a cut on his right index finger.

MARLINS: Reserve OF Austin Kearns was hospitalized with an irregular heartbeat.

NATIONALS: C Wilson Ramos went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring. C Jhonatan Solano was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse.

RED SOX: Struggling closer Joel Hanrahan will rest for a few games because of soreness in his right hamstring.

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WHITE SOX: INF Angel Sanchez went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained lower back. The contract of INF Tyler Greene was purchased from Triple-A Charlotte.

YANKEES: LHP Andy Pettitte is expected to make his next start Friday at Toronto after his turn in the rotation was pushed back because of back spasms.