Rhame suspended 2 games for pitch near Rhys

NEW YORK -- Mets reliever Jacob Rhame has been suspended two games and fined an undisclosed amount for "intentionally throwing a pitch in the area of the head of Rhys Hoskins," according to a Major League Baseball release. If Rhame does not appeal, his suspension will begin Friday in the Mets' game against the Brewers at Citi Field.

Rhame became the subject of the Phillies' ire in the ninth inning Tuesday, when he threw a pitch over Hoskins' head. Later in the plate appearance, Rhame threw another ball up and in to Hoskins, who glared at him as he took first base on a walk.

Afterward, Hoskins and other Phillies intimated that they believed Rhame's pitches were intentional. MLB reviewed the incident and ruled the same.

"I'm still fairly upset," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said on Wednesday afternoon.

That night, Philadelphia pitcher Vince Velasquez hit Mets infielder Todd Frazier with a pitch, prompting home-plate umpire Brian Gorman to warn both benches. The episode appeared to be complete, until Rhame appeared in the ninth inning again and served up a home run to Hoskins. The Phillies slugger took 34.2 seconds to round the bases -- the longest uninterrupted home run trot in the Majors since at least 2014.

Rhame downplayed the incident after the game.

"He got me," the Mets reliever said. "If I make a better pitch, he doesn't get to run the bases."

Rhame, one of several young relievers in New York's bullpen, has allowed three runs in 3 1/3 innings this season.