Former Phillies farmhand Carlos Carrasco suspended again

CLEVELAND - Another dangerous pitch has Carlos Carrasco in trouble again.

The Cleveland Indians pitcher was suspended for eight games by Major League Baseball on Friday for "intentionally throwing" at New York's Kevin Youkilis, the righthander's second penalty in two years for aiming at a hitter.

The Indians acquired Carrasco in 2009 as part of the trade that sent Cy Young winner Cliff Lee to the Phillies.

Carrasco had just completed serving a five-game suspension for a fastball thrown at Kansas City's Billy Butler in 2011 (Carrasco missed all of 2012 following elbow ligament-replacement surgery) when he drilled Youkilis with a high-and-too-tight fastball in the fourth inning of the Yankees' 14-1 win on Tuesday. The pitch came moments after giving up a two-run homer to Robinson Cano.

MLB officials appeared to take Carrasco's history into account with the punishment, which included a $3,000 fine. Carrasco was optioned to triple-A Columbus on Wednesday and will not start serving the suspension until his recall. He was expected to ask the players' union to appeal.

After the game, an emotional Carrasco apologized and said he slipped on the pitch that nailed Youkilis on the left shoulder. Indians manager Terry Francona said he believed his pitcher but also acknowledged "it didn't look good" and understood that the Yankees were upset.

Carrasco won eight games for the Indians in 2011 before his elbow injury. He went winless in his last six starts, which included an ejection from a July 29 outing for throwing at Butler's head. Butler was targeted by Carrasco, right after the pitcher gave up a grand slam to Melky Cabrera.