Rangers, A’s refuse to take blame
The Oakland Athletics and Texas Rangers disagreed over who was to blame for an altercation in the stands in Oakland, Calif., that led to the Tuesday arrest of Rangers reliever Frank Francisco after he threw a chair that hit a woman and broke her nose.
David Rinetti, A’s vice president of stadium operations, said Tuesday a review of Monday’s ninth-inning fracas — which took place in the lower-box seats between the Texas dugout and bullpen — showed the fans’ behavior wasn’t over the line according to baseball’s rules of conduct that are posted at every ballpark entrance.
“The incident became ugly when players approached the seating area,” Rinetti said before the teams played the second game of the four-game series.
He noted the fans didn’t yell racial slurs or swear at the Texas players.
Yet Rangers manager Buck Showalter was quick to point to previous problems the Rangers have had in the Oakland Coliseum. He claimed the Rangers had asked for more security in the area, but Rinetti said neither he nor his security staff had been approached with such a request.
Still, the A’s beefed up security for Tuesday’s game and the remainder of the series — and probably for the rest of the season. Several additional officers from the Oakland Police Department were brought in to assist the Coliseum’s regular security staff, which was increased by 10 people in the visiting bullpen and dugout.
Francisco, 25, was arrested for aggravated battery after Monday night’s game and released about four hours later on $15,000 bail. He arrived at the ballpark nearly two hours after the first pitch, just in case the Rangers needed him.
Giambi returns to Yankees’ lineup
Jason Giambi returned to the New York Yankees’ lineup for the first time since July 23, batting sixth against the Kansas City Royals.
“I feel great,” said Giambi, who went 2 for 16 with two doubles and four strikeouts in a rehabilitation stint at Triple-A Columbus that ended Monday.
Yankees manager Joe Torre said his plan was to use Giambi strictly as a designated hitter.
Giambi was activated with an eye toward the Yankees’ upcoming weekend series against Boston.
The 2000 American League most valuable player, recovering from a benign tumor, intestinal parasite, strained groin and respiratory infection, is hitless in his last 21 big league at-bats. He felt weak all season and was hitting .221 with 11 homers and 36 runs batted in.
Penny pitches in simulated game
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Brad Penny threw 55 pitches during three innings of a simulated game as he attempts to come back from arm pain that has sidelined him since Aug. 8.
“After what I just heard from our medical people and what I saw myself sitting out there watching it, you have to be very encouraged,” Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. “I saw an explosive fastball at times. I saw better command of his curveball, which I hadn’t anticipating seeing with the amount of time he’s been down.”
Penny, whose injury was diagnosed as a strained right biceps, will be re-evaluated today. If he’s pain-free, he’ll probably throw another simulated game in a few days.
Rolen still ailing
St. Louis third baseman Scott Rolen missed his third consecutive start with a strained left calf muscle and is likely miss at least a few more games.
“I’ll get out there as soon as I can get out there,” Rolen said. “I think the consensus is they want to be kind of cautious that I don’t go out there and push it a day or two early.”
Rolen, hitting .320 with 32 homers and an N.L.-leading 121 RBIs, was hurt Friday running out a double.
Clearing the bases
Montreal reinstated right-handers Tomo Ohka and Jon Rauch from the 15-day disabled list. … Former National League MVP Ken Caminiti has failed four drug tests since going on probation in 2002 for possession of cocaine, including one last week that landed him in a Houston jail.