Escobar suspended for slur on eye-black
Toronto shortstop Yunel Escobar was suspended for three games Tuesday by the Blue Jays for wearing eye-black displaying a homophobic slur written in Spanish during a game last weekend against Boston.
Escobar apologized to his team and "to all those who have been offended" for what he said was meant to be "just a joke."
"It was not something I intended to be offensive," he said through a translator. "It was not anything intended to be directed at anyone in particular."
Escobar said he wrote the message 10 minutes before Saturday's home game on his eye-black, a sticker players wear under their eyes to reduce sun glare. The 29-year-old Cuban said he frequently puts messages there - usually inspirational, manager John Farrell offered - and had never previously written that specific slur.
* AMERICAN LEAGUE
Tigers 12, Athletics 2: Miguel Cabrera had two homers and six RBIs and host Detroit routed Oakland.
Twins 6, Indians 4, 12 inn.: Darin Mastroianni scored the go-ahead run from second base on an infield hit in the 12th to lift Minnesota at Cleveland.
Red Sox 7, Rays 5: At St. Petersburg, Fla., Boston's Felix Doubront limited Tampa Bay to one hit over six innings.
White Sox 3, Royals 2: Gavin Floyd pitched seven crisp innings, leading Chicago at Kansas City.
Angels 11, Rangers 3: At Anaheim, Calif., Jered Weaver earned his 100th win and Los Angeles beat Texas.
Toronto at New York, pdd., rain: The Blue Jays-Yankees game was postponed by rain and will be made up as part of a doubleheader today.
* NATIONAL LEAGUE
Reds 3, Cubs 1: Ryan Hanigan hit a three-run double and Cincinnati won at Chicago.
Brewers 6, Pirates 0: Yovani Gallardo gave up just two hits over 6 2/3 innings and Milwaukee won at Pittsburgh.
Marlins 4, Braves 3, 10 inn.: Jose Reyes' RBI single in the 10th lifted host Miami past Atlanta.
Cardinals 4, Astros 1: Kyle Lohse threw seven scoreless innings and host St. Louis beat Houston.
Giants 6, Rockies 3: Tim Lincecum pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings and host San Francisco beat Colorado.
Diamondbacks 3, Padres 2: At Phoenix, Miguel Montero drove in two runs with two doubles and Arizona beat San Diego.
Los Angeles at Washington, ppd., rain: The Dodgers-Nationals game was postponed by rain and will be made up as part of a doubleheader today.
Philadelphia at New York, ppd., rain: The Phillies-Mets game was postponed by rain and will be made up Thursday.