Ryan Dempster suspended 5 games for throwing at Alex Rodriguez

Ryan Dempster was given a five-game suspension for throwing at Alex Rodriguez. (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) Major League Baseball has suspended Red Sox

Ryan Dempster was given a five-game suspension for throwing at Alex Rodriguez. (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Major League Baseball has suspended Red Sox starting pitcher Ryan Dempster five games and an undisclosed fine for intentionally throwing at and hitting Alex Rodriguez on Sunday, the league announced Tuesday afternoon.

Dempster became the first pitcher to be accused of throwing at Rodriguez following his 211-game suspension for allegedly using performance-enhancing drugs and tampering with MLB's investigation into the Biogenesis scandal. Rodriguez is playing for the Yankees during his appeal process.

Rodriguez led off the top of the second inning against Ryan Dempster. This GIF shows Dempster’s first pitch sail behind Rodriguez’s legs. Dempster's fourth pitch hit Rodriguez in the left elbow.

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After home plate umpire Brian O’Nora warned both benches, Yankees manager Joe Girardi charged out of the dugout and demonstrably argued with O'Nora over his handling of the incident. Girardi was eventually ejected.

In his third at-bat, Rodriguez led off the sixth inning with a solo home run off Dempster.

Girardi was also fined an undisclosed amount for his actions.