Peralta takes loss after appealing eight-game suspension

Joel Peralta's punishment for being caught with pine tar in his glove was an eight-game suspension.

Peralta appealed, so he remained eligible to pitch, which he did Thursday, and he ended up taking the loss in the Tampa Bay Rays' 5-2 defeat to the Nationals at Washington.

The Rays and Peralta are talking about whether he will wait for a hearing in hopes of getting the punishment reduced, or if drop the appeal and serve his time.

Peralta said he was fine with the decision, which seemed in line with precedent for similar violations.

"Whatever they do is going to be fair, because that's what it's going to be," he said. "So I'm pleased. I'm OK."

However, Rays manager Joe Maddon, outspoken throughout the entire incident, didn't see it the same way.

"Of course it's too much, and of course it's unfair," Maddon said. "But that's what they came down with, and it's going to be up to them to try to manipulate it from there, possibly."

The Rays will be short-handed when Peralta does serves his suspension, and they are expected to drop a position player and add another reliever to keep the bullpen at full strength.