Jason Marquis, Esmerling Vazquez Suspended Five Games Each For Hitting Batters

Major League Baseball has come down on pitchers Jason Marquis and Esmerling Vasquez for their roles in a wild game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Washington Nationals on Sunday. Marquis was suspended for five games, while Vasquez was suspended for three games, according to the league.

Managers Jim Riggleman and Kirk Gibson have also been suspended one game. Marquis is appealing his suspension and subsequent fine, according to Amanda Comak of the Washington Times.

Marquis was ejected in the sixth inning for hitting Justin Upton in the back, one inning after Jayson Werth objected to being hit, which caused a warning. Marquis was stunned because it was a 1-0 game and the hit-by-pitch put runners on first and second base. Two innings later, Vasquez threw behind Danny Espinosa and was also ejected.

Marquis' next scheduled start was expected to be on Friday at San Diego. Riggleman will serve his suspension Tuesday, according to the league.

A previous edition of this post suggested Vasquez was suspended for five games. He was actually suspended for just three.

Wilson Ramos Admits To Taunting Diamondbacks After Home Run

Nationals Vs. Diamondbacks Final: Wild Night In The Desert Ends In Nationals 9-4 Win

There is probably not enough space on the Internet to go over the fine details of the excitement and madness of the Washington Nationals 9-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. It was a game filled with everything from multiple hit-by-pitches, player ejections, manager ejections, a heartbreaking blown save, a fan on the field and Michael Morse. It took 11 innings to end the bizarre affair, but the Nationals can move on from Arizona knowing they got the series split.

Nationals starter Jason Marquis and manager Jim Riggleman were ejected in the sixth-inning of a 1-0 Nationals game after Marquis hit Justin Upton with a pitch and Riggleman argued the ejection. Umpire Rob Drake thought it was intentional retaliation after D-Backs Ian Kennedy hit Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth with a pitch in the fifth. Two-innings later Esmerling Vasquez of the Diamondbacks and manager Kirk Gibson also got ejected after Vasquez hit Danny Espinosa with a pitch in the back. An angry Espinosa had to be held back from further confrontation.

In the ninth-inning with the Nationals up 4-1 reliever Drew Storen loaded the bases and allowed the Diamondbacks to score three-runs to send the game into extra innings. Storen claimed a blown save in the game. Relievers Todd Coffey and Sean Burnett held off the D-Backs offense until the 11th-inning when Rick Ankiel and Michael Morse made them not needed anymore.

D-Backs reliever Joe Paterson loaded the bases in the 11th and walked Ankiel to give the Nationals the go-ahead run. Up stepped Morse who with the bases loaded sent a Paterson fastball over the yellow line in the center field wall to put the Nationals up 9-4 and send Arizona fans to the parking lot.

The Nationals move to 26-33 on the season.

Nationals Vs. Diamondbacks: Esmerling Vasquez Ejected For Throwing Behind Danny Espinosa

Jason Marquis Thrown Out For Hitting Justin Upton In Nationals-Diamondbacks Game

Nationals Vs. Diamondbacks Score: Nationals Holding On To 1-0 Lead

Sunday's game between the Washington Nationals and Arizona Diamondbacks is running tight with pitchers Jason Marquis and Ian Kennedy battling hard. For now, the Nationals are on top by a run, the only run of the game, with the score of 1-0.

In the third-inning center fielder Roger Bernadina crossed the plate on a sac fly from right fielder Jayson Werth. That has been the difference in the game that is in the sixth-inning. Marquis has given up only three hits and struck out four, but has walked three. Kennedy has a similar line giving up one run on five hits. He has struck out three and walked three.

The Nationals hitting has come from Bernadina with two hits and second baseman Danny Espinosa, third baseman Alex Cora and shortstop Ian Desmond each collecting a hit each. The Nationals will have to either build or hold the lead without Marquis who was ejected in the bottom of the sixth-inning after plugging Justin Upton with a pitch. Manager Jim Riggleman was also ejected.

Reliever Tyler Clippard has taken over in the bottom of the sixth with the D-Backs threatening with two men on and one out.

Nationals Vs. Diamondbacks: Nationals Turn To Jason Marquis To Bring Heat To Desert Finale

When the Washington Nationals work themselves into a hole these days they seem to look forward to the days that righty Jason Marquis pitches. Sunday finds the Nationals in a deep hole in the desert coming off two consecutive shutouts at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Marquis will be taking the mound for Washington looking to claim the final game of a four game series have the Nats leave Arizona with a split.

Marquis, 6-2, 4.13 ERA, is arguably the Nationals best starter. A fierce competitor and veteran, Marquis is riding high after his last outing where he defeated the Philadelphia Phillies and pitcher Cliff Lee at Nationals Park back on May 31st. Sunday afternoon he will have to contend with Arizona's Ian Kennedy (6-2, 3.16 ERA) who has a 4.91 ERA in two starts against Washington.

The wild card in the whole affair will be the Nationals offense who have been shutdown and shutout the past two days. Washington certainly has the pitcher to carry them, but they will need the line-up to produce on their end as well. Wllson Ramos will be behind the plate for the second consecutive game, outfielder Laynce Nix will be hitting clean up and Alex Cora will man third base.

Nationals Line-Up

1. Roger Bernadina, CF

2. Ian Desmond, SS

3. Jayson Werth, RF

4. Laynce Nix, LF

5. Michael Morse, 1B

6. Danny Espinosa, 2B

7. Wilson Ramos, C

8. Alex Cora, 3B

9. Jason Marquis, SP