Royals pitcher to appeal 5-game suspension

Apr 6, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Kelvin Herrera (40) delivers a pitch in the seventh inning against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. (Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports)

Apr 19, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oakland Athletics third basemen Brett Lawrie (15) reacts to a high and inside pitch from Kansas City Royals pitcher Kelvin Herrera (not pictured) during the eighth inning at Kauffman Stadium. (Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports)

Apr 19, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oakland Athletics third basemen Brett Lawrie (15) reacts to a high and inside pitch, as home plate umpire Greg Gibson (left) throws Kansas City Royals pitcher Kelvin Herrera (not pictured) out of the game for the pitch during the eighth inning at Kauffman Stadium. (Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports)

Apr 19, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals bench coach Don Wakamatsu (left) is ejected from the game by crew chief Jim Joyce (right) after pitcher Kelvin Herrera (not pictured) was also thrown out of the game against the Oakland Athletics during the eighth inning at Kauffman Stadium. (Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports)

Apr 19, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals bench coach Don Wakamatsu (left) argues with crew chief Jim Joyce (right) after pitcher Kelvin Herrera (not pictured) was ejected from the game against the Oakland Athletics during the eighth inning at Kauffman Stadium. (Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports)

Apr 19, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Kelvin Herrera (40) looks on after getting thrown out of the game against the Oakland Athletics during the eighth inning at Kauffman Stadium. (Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports)

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The Sports Xchange

April 22, 2015 - 9:12 am

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Royals right-handed reliever Kelvin Herrera is appealing his five-game suspension, which was to begin Wednesday.

Herrera was suspended for throwing a ball behind A’s third baseman Brett Lawrie Sunday in the head area after warnings had been issued in the first inning. Herrera pointed to his head as he left the field.

Right-handed Yordano Ventura was fined for hitting Lawrie in the fourth inning Saturday after giving up a three-run homer.

“I do think they were fair,” Royals manager Ned Yost said of the penalties, which were announced by Major League Baseball. “It could have been a lot worse. Honestly, it’s better than I expected.”

Yost said Herrera’s appeal hearing could take from one-to-two weeks.

“It does buy us some time,” Yost said with closer Greg Holland on the disabled list. “It gives us a little more time to get Greg going.”