Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon will begin a two-game suspension on Friday night. Papelbon was initially suspended three games for making contact with plate umpire Tony Randazzo during a June 4 game at home against Oakland. He appealed the suspension, which led to Major League Baseball reducing the ban by a game.

Nationals starting pitcher Jason Marquis has dropped his appeal to the five-game suspension the league gave him for hitting Justin Upton with a pitch. The timing of his decision will allow him to serve the suspension without missing a start thanks to Washington's upcoming off-day. Marquis remained adamant that he was in the right and did not hit Upton on purpose or in retaliation of Jayson Werth getting plunked earlier in the game. "Obviously you always have to put the team first, and the way everybody's throwing the ball, I didn't want to mess that up for everybody," Marquis said. "That was really behind the decision, but I'm still adamant I'm not that type of pitcher. I didn't throw at anyone on purpose. But sometimes you've got to suck it up for the betterment of the team. I'll serve it and move on."

Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon has been suspended three games by Major League Baseball, but he was on the mound in the ninth inning against the Yankees on Tuesday night anyway. Papelbon was suspended and fined an undisclosed amount in the aftermath of Saturday's ejection by plate umpire Tony Randazzo. The suspension should have kept him out of Tuesday's game, but the reliever decided to appeal. "It's me," he said. "You know I don't get away with anything. I've been fined for being three seconds late (between pitches)."