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Mets fan faces charges

Second-base umpire Paul Emmel points a security guard in the direction of a fan. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press The Spokesman-Review
Second-base umpire Paul Emmel points a security guard in the direction of a fan. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

A 40-year-old man arrested at Shea Stadium in New York on Friday night is accused of trying to distract an Atlanta Braves pitcher and shortstop with a high-powered flashlight.

Frank Martinez was charged with interference with a professional sporting event and second-degree reckless endangerment, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.

Authorities said Martinez flashed the powerful light at the players in the bottom of the eighth inning.

“The defendant’s alleged actions recklessly endangered the lives of players and spectators and caused a temporary delay to the game,” Brown said.

The Braves were leading the Mets 7-0 and Tim Hudson was on the mound facing Mets pinch-hitter Endy Chavez when, investigators said, Martinez turned the beam on the Braves pitcher and shortstop Edgar Renteria.

Renteria complained and security officers removed Martinez and found “a small, streamline flashlight” in his backpack, Brown said.

Martinez was scheduled to remain behind bars until at least Saturday evening. If convicted, he faces up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Clearing the bases

Alfonso Soriano is expected to rejoin the Chicago Cubs’ lineup Monday and he’ll be switched from center field back to left field, where he played last season with Washington. Soriano was out of the lineup for a fifth straight game after straining his left hamstring … New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui declared himself 100 percent healthy after going 1 for 3 with an RBI in his second rehab assignment with Class A Tampa. Matsui, who has been out with a strained left hamstring, plans to rejoin the Yankees on Monday … The Philadelphia Phillies pulled off the first triple play in the majors this season in the fifth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Cincinnati. With Josh Hamilton on second base and Edwin Encarnacion on first, catcher David Ross grounded to Phillies third baseman Abraham Nunez, who stepped on third base to force Hamilton and threw to second baseman Chase Utley to force Encarnacion for the second out. Utley’s relay to first baseman Wes Helms caught Ross by a step to complete Philadelphia’s first triple play since May 15, 1999, against the New York Mets.