Bob Nightengale

USA TODAY Sports

Major League Baseball suspended Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura for nine games and Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado for four games due to their bench-clearing incident after Ventura hit Machado with a pitch Tuesday at Camden Yards.

Both players will appeal their suspension and can play until their appeal is heard.

Ventura was disciplined, MLB said in a statement released Thursday, for "intentionally throwing at Machado and fighting." Ventura and Machado had exchanged words after a previous at-bat, and Ventura drilled a 99-mph fastball in Machado's midsection in the third baseman's subsequent plate appearance. Machado was suspended for "charging the mound and fighting." He was fined $2,500, and Ventura also was fined.

“Obviously, I’m appealing it and we’ll see what happens," Machado told reporters in Toronto, where he's starting in the opener of a four-game series with the Blue Jays. "They came up with a decision and obviously that’s why we’re going to appeal it and see what happens going forward. That’s the decision they made and I’m obviously going to have to deal with it and see what happens."

After brawl, Orioles livid at Yordano Ventura: 'A circuit board off balance'

This is not the first time Ventura and Machado have ignited bench-clearing incidents. In April 2015, Ventura received a seven-game suspension after he instigated a brawl with the Chicago White Sox. Last June, he stared down Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout on a play at the plate that resulted in a bench-clearing scrum.

Machado served a five-game suspension after a June 2014 incident during which he intentionally threw his bat toward third base after an apparent brushback pitch against the Oakland Athletics.

Ventura, who was also fined in 2015 for throwing at then-Oakland Athletics third baseman Brett Lawrie, has tested the patience of Royals teammates and manager Ned Yost with his on-field fracases. After his abbreviated outing against Baltimore, the 25-year-old has a 5.32 ERA and has issued an American League-high 35 walks.

Earlier this season, MLB suspended Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor eight games for his punch to Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista. His suspension, which was reduced by one game, was the harshest penalty among 14 players and coaches involved in the brawl.

Baseball's culture clash: Vast majority of brawls involve differing ethnicities

GALLERY: ORIOLES-ROYALS BRAWL