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L.A. Pitcher Park Suspended


Los Angeles pitcher Chan Ho Park was suspended for seven games and fined $3,000 on Tuesday for hitting and kicking Anaheim Angels pitcher Tim Belcher.

The Dodgers said Park wouldn't appeal the suspension, which begins Tuesday night against the Texas Rangers. He will be eligible to return June 17 against Pittsburgh at Dodger Stadium.

The fight last Saturday began after Belcher fielded Park's sacrifice bunt in the fifth inning and tagged him out. After a brief exchange of words, Park forearmed Belcher in the face and followed with a leaping kick.

Park later said Belcher tagged him hard, and then cursed him.

Both benches and bullpens emptied, and Park was ejected. Matt Walbeck had hit a grand slam off Park an inning earlier, the fourth grand slam allowed by Park this season, equaling a big-league record.

Park, 4-3 with a 4.84 ERA in 12 starts this season, will actually miss just one start. And because the Dodgers are off Thursday and Monday, it will allow them to go with a four-game rotation in his absence without any starter pitching on less than four days' rest.

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