PITTSBURGH — St. Louis right-hander Brad Thompson will appeal a three-game suspension for pitching inside to the Mets’ David Wright, a punishment Cardinals manager Tony La Russa called unfair.

Thompson was not ejected after a pitch rode up and in to Wright during New York’s 9-0 victory on Wednesday, after the Cardinals’ Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick were hit with pitches by Nelson Figueroa. Thompson was not ejected.
La Russa said Friday that Thompson was “very harshly treated, unfairly.”
“I’m not happy because the pitch got away, and we always tell them (the pitchers) if you’re going to throw the ball inside and you’re going to miss, miss down and not up,” La Russa said. “But the fact was, and I tried to explain to (umpire) Bill Miller, Ludwick and Albert got hit and I don’t think they (the Mets) were trying (to hit them), they were trying to work the ball inside. And Albert was coming off six hits.”
Wright is 5 for 10 with two doubles and a homer in his career against Thompson.
La Russa questioned how the Brewers’ Prince Fielder could try to muscle his way into the Dodgers’ clubhouse after being hit by a pitch from the Dodgers’ Guillermo Mota on Tuesday night, yet the two players weren’t suspended and Thompson was. Fielder and Mota were fined.
“I just think (major league disciplinarian) Bob Watson’s criteria are tough ... I don’t think there’s consistency there,” La Russa said.
Thompson continue pitching until his appeal is heard.
“We’re on the record — we don’t throw the ball at guys’ heads,” La Russa said.