Byrd Gets Punished for Run-In

Washington National outfielder Marlon Byrd was suspended for two games and fined an undisclosed amount Thursday by Major League Baseball for his run-in with an umpire last week.

Byrd’s agents told the players’ association that he would appeal, and Washington General Manager Jim Bowden said he had no doubt that the suspension would be wiped out.

Byrd collided with and knocked down umpire Joe Brinkman while arguing with another umpire during Washington’s 7-3 victory over the Florida Marlins last Saturday.

“I’ve watched the replay 45 to 50 times, and it’s very clear to me that the contact that took place with the second base umpire and Marlon Byrd was 100% the fault of the second base umpire,” Bowden said before Thursday night’s game against the Oakland Athletics.

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Barry Bonds blasted former Chicago White Sox slugger Ron Kittle, whose recently released book quotes the San Francisco star as saying “I don’t sign for white people” before a game at Wrigley Field 12 years ago.

“Who is Kittle? How long did he play? He played in our league?” Bonds said, lying on a clubhouse couch Thursday before the Giants’ game against the Kansas City Royals. “Ha! Do you guys believe that?

“I was married to a woman who was white, so let’s get real. I don’t even know the guy. Tell him he’s an ... idiot.... Don’t insult my family.”

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Colorado rookie shortstop Clint Barmes now says he was lugging a package of deer meat he got from teammate Todd Helton, not a bag of groceries, when he fell and broke his collarbone.

Helton said he and Barmes rode four-wheel, all-terrain vehicles at Helton’s ranch Sunday but that the ATV ride had nothing to do with the injury.

“I cannot say it strongly enough -- he did not get hurt riding an ATV,” Helton told the Denver Post.

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The Seattle Mariners traded shortstop Wilson Valdez to the San Diego Padres for minor league pitchers Mike Bumstead and R.D. Spiehs. Both were pitching for triple-A Portland.... The Arizona Diamondbacks optioned right-handed relief pitcher Mike Koplove to triple-A Tucson and recalled right-hander Edgar Gonzalez.