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OAKLAND, Calif. -- Texas Rangers reliever Frank Francisco was arrested Tuesday morning after he threw a chair into the right-field box seats, hitting two spectators in the head and leaving one with a broken nose, during Monday night's loss to the Athletics.
Francisco was arrested on a charge of aggravated battery, a felony. The fan whose nose was broken, an unidentified woman, also suffered cuts to her face.
“ Tonight, it went over the line. It was a real break from the normal trash you hear from fans. We've had problems about every time we've come here. ”
— Rangers manager Buck Showalter
Francisco was cooperative after he was taken into custody, Oakland Police Department deputy chief Peter Dunbar said. He posted bond early Tuesday morning and was released. Rangers officials did not return calls from The Associated Press on Tuesday morning. The commissioner's office said that it is investigating the incident.
"We're looking into the matter," MLB spokesman Patrick Courtney said Tuesday. "We take matters like this seriously. ... We're just at the beginning stages of looking into it all."
The woman who was injured was considering pressing charges, according to David Rinetti, Oakland's vice president of stadium operations.
With two outs in the ninth, the Rangers' Alfonso Soriano tied the game at 5 with his second homer of the night. Moments later, with the Rangers' Hank Blalock at the plate, the Texas bench and bullpen cleared.
Texas relief pitcher Doug Brocail was seen screaming at a male fan after the two appeared to exchange insults, and the pitcher had to be restrained by his teammates and bullpen coach Mark Connor. Others also had to be held back.
"Tonight, it went over the line," Rangers manager Buck Showalter said. "It was a real break from the normal trash you hear from fans. We've had problems about every time we've come here."
Francisco threw the chair at a fan in a lower box near the Rangers' bullpen along the right-field line. The chair hit one man in the head, then bounced and struck the woman on her left temple.
Security ran to the scene, and some fans -- a small section -- were cleared from their seats. The box seats extend near the bullpen mound at Network Associates Coliseum.
A's manager Ken Macha came across the field to speak to Rinetti before play resumed 19 minutes later. The Athletics won 7-6 in the 10th inning.
There was talk between the umpires and managers of suspending the game, clearing the stands and forfeiting the game. There were no ejections. The Rangers said they had requested extra security in that area earlier in the game, but Rinetti said no request had been made.
Francisco was escorted by police out an alternate stadium exit after the game and into a car waiting on the field.
Brocail declined comment, and Francisco wasn't around the locker room afterward.
"From what I understand, there was some calls made to security early during the game, but I have no idea what started it out there," crew chief Joe Brinkman told reporters afterward.
Showalter said reliever Carlos Almanzar had to come out of the game after having an asthma attack because of the incident.
Francisco, 25, was named American League rookie of the month for August, when he was 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA.
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Just when you think you've seen it all in sports.
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Texas Rangers reliever Frank Francisco was arrested Tuesday morning after he threw a chair into the right-field box seats, hitting two spectators in the head and leaving one with a broken nose, during Monday night's loss to the Athletics.
Francisco was arrested on a charge of aggravated battery, a felony. The fan whose nose was broken, an unidentified woman, also suffered cuts to her face.
“ Tonight, it went over the line. It was a real break from the normal trash you hear from fans. We've had problems about every time we've come here. ”
— Rangers manager Buck Showalter
Francisco was cooperative after he was taken into custody, Oakland Police Department deputy chief Peter Dunbar said. He posted bond early Tuesday morning and was released. Rangers officials did not return calls from The Associated Press on Tuesday morning. The commissioner's office said that it is investigating the incident.
"We're looking into the matter," MLB spokesman Patrick Courtney said Tuesday. "We take matters like this seriously. ... We're just at the beginning stages of looking into it all."
The woman who was injured was considering pressing charges, according to David Rinetti, Oakland's vice president of stadium operations.
With two outs in the ninth, the Rangers' Alfonso Soriano tied the game at 5 with his second homer of the night. Moments later, with the Rangers' Hank Blalock at the plate, the Texas bench and bullpen cleared.
Texas relief pitcher Doug Brocail was seen screaming at a male fan after the two appeared to exchange insults, and the pitcher had to be restrained by his teammates and bullpen coach Mark Connor. Others also had to be held back.
"Tonight, it went over the line," Rangers manager Buck Showalter said. "It was a real break from the normal trash you hear from fans. We've had problems about every time we've come here."
Francisco threw the chair at a fan in a lower box near the Rangers' bullpen along the right-field line. The chair hit one man in the head, then bounced and struck the woman on her left temple.
Security ran to the scene, and some fans -- a small section -- were cleared from their seats. The box seats extend near the bullpen mound at Network Associates Coliseum.
A's manager Ken Macha came across the field to speak to Rinetti before play resumed 19 minutes later. The Athletics won 7-6 in the 10th inning.
There was talk between the umpires and managers of suspending the game, clearing the stands and forfeiting the game. There were no ejections. The Rangers said they had requested extra security in that area earlier in the game, but Rinetti said no request had been made.
Francisco was escorted by police out an alternate stadium exit after the game and into a car waiting on the field.
Brocail declined comment, and Francisco wasn't around the locker room afterward.
"From what I understand, there was some calls made to security early during the game, but I have no idea what started it out there," crew chief Joe Brinkman told reporters afterward.
Showalter said reliever Carlos Almanzar had to come out of the game after having an asthma attack because of the incident.
Francisco, 25, was named American League rookie of the month for August, when he was 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA.
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Just when you think you've seen it all in sports.
