BALTIMORE — New York Yankees reliever Kyle Farnsworth was suspended for three games and fined today for throwing a fastball behind the neck of Boston slugger Manny Ramirez earlier in the week.

Farnsworth appealed the penalty, which was to start Saturday night against Baltimore. He will be eligible to pitch until a hearing is held.

Ramirez hit two home runs Thursday night as the Red Sox beat the Yankees 7-5. When he came up again in the seventh inning, Farnsworth threw a 97 mph pitch behind star.

Ramirez dropped his bat, but never made a move toward the mound. Farnsworth wasn't ejected and plate umpire Larry Vanover immediately warned both dugouts. Ramirez eventually grounded out and the Red Sox never retaliated.

"It just slipped. I was trying to be aggressive and go in on him," Farnsworth said after the game.

The penalty was imposed by Bob Watson, vice president of on-field operations for Major League Baseball. The amount of the fine was not disclosed.

A day before Farnsworth's close pitch, Red Sox reliever David Aardsma hit Yankees star Alex Rodriguez with a pitch.

"We hit one of the best players and I guess they want to send a message and that's what they did," Ramirez said after nearly getting hit. "They've got to back up their players and he did."