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Hector Neris appeals three-game suspension for hitting Dodgers’ David Freese

Neris and Gabe Kapler both said it wasn't intentional.

Hector Neris gestures after being ejected from Tuesday night's game.
Hector Neris gestures after being ejected from Tuesday night's game.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer

Hector Neris was puzzled Tuesday night when he was ejected in the ninth inning. His 95 mph fastball plunked the Dodgers’ David Freese two pitches after Neris allowed a three-run homer, but Neris said he was just throwing inside.

Home-plate umpire Chris Conroy deemed it intentional and ejected him. Neris was stunned.

Imagine how he felt a day later.

Major League Baseball suspended Neris on Wednesday for three-games and fined him for “intentionally throwing a pitch in the area of the head.” Neris disagreed and appealed the suspension. He will be available to the Phillies until his appeal is resolved.

Manager Gabe Kapler agreed with Neris and also was ejected by Conroy after pleading his pitcher’s case. Kapler said after the game that he did not believe the pitch was intentional.

“It was nothing crazy,” Neris said. “I just wanted to throw inside. I couldn’t feel the ball, and I hit him. I didn’t hit him on purpose. I want to throw as hard as I can inside.”

Neris blew a one-run lead by issuing a lead-off walk, a single, and then the three-run homer to pinch-hitter Matt Beaty. Freese was the next batter, and he was hit in the upper back on a 1-0 count.

It was Neris’ second blown save in four days. He has allowed runs in four of his last seven appearances and has a 9.82 ERA in 12 games since a crushing blown save last month in Atlanta.

Neris, after a terrific start to the season, is starting to show flaws. But the Phillies will continue to ride him as their closer, Kapler said.

“He’s really our best option,” Kapler said. “He really is. He’s proven it over a long period of time, and he’s going through a little bit of a rough stretch, but he’s our horse, and we have to lean on him.”