Pirates' Ramirez suspended for seven games

Tuesday, April 23rd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(New York, New York-AP) -- Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Aramis Ramirez has been suspended for seven games and fined by major league baseball for charging the mound and throwing his batting helmet at Milwaukee pitcher Ben Sheets.

Ramirez sprained his right ankle in that game against the Brewers on April 17th, and he hasn't played since.

The action was announced today. Because Ramirez is injured, he won't appeal the suspension and will begin serving it immediately. He'll be eligible to return May first against Colorado.

Ramirez is batting .348 with no home runs and five R-B-I's.

He drew a five-game suspension in 1998 for charging the mound and throwing his helmet at Montreal pitcher Javier Vasquez. At the time, Ramirez was a 19-year-old rookie who had been in the majors less than two months.