"Jonathan Papelbon isn't dodging responsibility for his role during a furious argument with umpire Tony Randazzo last Saturday at Fenway Park.

But the Red Sox closer doesn't think he deserves to be suspended either.

Before earning the save in last night's 6-4 win at Yankee Stadium, Papelbon got slapped with a three-game ban and was fined an undisclosed amount for what Major League Baseball termed "his inappropriate actions, which included making contact with (the) home plate umpire."

Papelbon is appealing the suspension and was thus eligible to pitch last night. At the very least, he's hoping to have the suspension reduced. Papelbon said he wasn't sure when his appeal would be heard.

"My side of it is, like I said from the beginning, I didn't go out there with any malicious thoughts to go out there and show up the umpire," Papelbon said. "I don't feel like I was really the one that made the whole situation go the way it did. Hopefully, Major League Baseball will see that. If they don't, they don't."

The incident, which occurred in the ninth inning of a 14-inning victory over the Oakland Athletics, flared when Papelbon seemingly showed his displeasure over the strike zone, although he later said he simply wanted to speak to catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia."