Yordano Ventura begins serving 8-game suspension for on-field fight

Kansas City Royalsstarting pitcherYordano Ventura will begin serving an eight-game suspension Saturday for his on-field fight with Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado on June 7, the Royals announced.

Ventura, 25, will be eligible to return June 28, when the Royals play the St. Louis Cardinals.

Ventura hit Machado in the back with a 99 mph fastball in the fifth inning of the Orioles' 9-1 victory over the Royals. Machado charged the mound and punched Ventura in the head as the benches emptied.

Ventura was initially handed a nine-game ban, but it was reduced to eight games after an appeal. He and Machado were also fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball.

Machado has appealed his four-game suspension, and a hearing is set for Tuesday, according to the Baltimore Sun.

Ventura has made two starts since the June 7 incident, picking up wins in both, including Friday in the second game of a four-game series against theDetroit Tigers.