Yankees' Hawkins suspended for throwing pitch at Scott

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Yankees reliever LaTroy Hawkins has been suspended for three games for intentionally throwing a pitch at the head of Baltimore Orioles' Luke Scott, Major League Baseball said on Thursday.

Hawkins was also fined an undisclosed amount for the incident which occurred during the sixth inning of the Orioles' 12-2 victory at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old right-hander said after the game he did not intentionally throw the pitch at Scott but was merely pitching inside him.

Scott, who was able to elude the pitch, said he believed Hawkins was trying to hit him in retaliation for the Yankees' Derek Jeter being struck earlier in the game.

Hawkins, 1-0 with a 5.57 ERA in 17 games this season, has appealed the decision, delaying the suspension which was due to begin on Thursday when the Yankees conclude their three-game series with the Orioles.

(Writing by Steve Ginsburg in Washington; Editing by Padraic Halpin)