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Major League Baseball roundup

[June 10, 2016] June 9 (The Sports Xchange) - Major League Baseball suspended Kansas City Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura for nine games and Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado for four on Thursday after they set off a benches-clearing brawl during Tuesday's game between the teams.

MLB also announced that both players were fined an undisclosed amount. USA Today reported that Machado's fine was $2,500.

Both players appealed the suspension. Machado was in the Orioles' lineup for Thursday's game.

Machado, 23, was hit in Tuesday's series opener by a 99 mph fastball from Ventura, 25, in the bottom of the fifth inning, rushed toward him and threw a punch at Ventura's head before wrestling him to the ground as both benches emptied.

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The Chicago White Sox signed veteran first baseman Justin Morneau and designated right-hander Mat Latos for assignment.

Morneau reached agreement with the White Sox on a one-year, $1 million contract with incentives and then was placed on the 15-day disabled list. To fill Latos' roster spot, the White Sox purchased the contract of right-hander Tyler Danish from Double-A Birmingham.

Morneau, a former American League MVP and four-time All-Star, is continuing to recover from offseason elbow surgery.

Last season, Morneau was limited to 49 games with the Colorado Rockies because of injuries but a year earlier won the National League batting title with a .319 average. The 35-year-old is a career .282 hitter with 241 home runs in 13 seasons.

The 28-year-old Latos began the season with a 4-0 record and a 0.74 ERA during the White Sox's hot start, but the team cooled off and so did the veteran pitcher, posting a 7.25 ERA in his last seven starts. Still, Latos has a 6-2 record with a 4.62 ERA in 11 starts.

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The Oakland Athletics placed starter Rich Hill on the 15-day disabled after the left-hander aggravated a groin injury during a bullpen session.

The move is retroactive to May 30, one day after Hill originally suffered the injury and had to depart from an outing against the Detroit Tigers.

Hill suffered the setback on Wednesday. He is slated to undergo an MRI exam to determine the severity. Hill, 36, missed his last start and was already scratched from Saturday's start prior to the injury.

Hill is 8-3 with a 2.25 ERA as a surprise standout for the Athletics. He was the American League Pitcher of the Month for May.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates optioned right-hander Jameson Taillon to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday and recalled left-hander Kyle Lobstein from the same club.

Taillon made his major-league debut on Wednesday and gave up three runs and six hits in six innings against the New York Mets. He was the second overall pick in the 2010 draft behind Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper.

Lobstein is joining the Pirates for the third time this season. He has a 4.79 ERA in 20 2/3 innings. (Editing by Larry Fine) ))

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