MLB.com

By John Schlegel / MLB.com

Things got testy between the Texas bullpen and the fans in Oakland on Monday. (Jeff Chiu/AP)

• Tempers flare in Oakland:  56K | 350K
• Commissioner's statement
•  The MLB.com Roundtable discusses the fracas in Oakland

During the bizarre incident, which took place in the top of the ninth inning, reliever Frank Francisco hoisted a folding chair into the stands, striking a woman and breaking her nose. On Tuesday morning, he was arrested on a charge of aggravated battery.

Rangers owner Tom Hicks, the day after the incident, issued the following statement: "On behalf of the Texas Rangers, I want to apologize for the conduct of some members of our club last night in Oakland. Their behavior, especially the injury to a fan, was unacceptable. Even in a difficult or abusive environment, players should never be provoked into such actions. I have been in contact with the Commissioners' office to determine the next appropriate steps."

After the 7-6 victory for Oakland, Rangers manager Buck Showalter said taunting from the fans was ongoing throughout the game and that he had requested additional security on more than one occasion during the game.

"They've got a few people out there, a lot more than a few, with some pretty angry faces, for whatever reason, before the incident," Showalter said.

No players were ejected from the game, and no fans were arrested. Showalter said reliever Carlos Almanzar wasn't able to return to the mound for another inning after suffering an asthma attack following the incident.

The Rangers' manager said players are accustomed to jeers from the stands, but this particular night was different.

"You get to a point like tonight where obviously it's a break from the normal trash that you hear from the fans. ... Tonight went way over the line," Showalter said.

A's vice president of stadium operations David Rinetti gave the following account from the information he had gathered from the scene and his security personnel: "My understanding was that the fans sitting near the Rangers bullpen had a discussion for most of the night with the bullpen. Nothing was thrown from the stands, none of our fans went out on the field. Nobody was saying anything that a fan could be thrown out of the game for. About the time of [Alfonso] Soriano's home run, something was said and [the Rangers relievers] went after the fans."

Just after Soriano hit a solo homer to tie the game at 5 with one out in the top of the ninth, the incident reached a volatile level. Rangers reliever Doug Brocail appeared to be engaged in a heated verbal exchange with a fan in the front section of seats located near the visitors' bullpen.

While teammates emerged from the dugout and the bullpen to protect Brocail, a scuffle at the edge of the stands broke out.

The game was delayed for 19 minutes while the teams, the umpiring crew of crew chief Joe Brinkman and the Coliseum security staff discussed how to proceed. Public address announcer Roy Steele issued the following warning during the delay: "If any fan goes on the field at any time, the A's will forfeit the ballgame."

Brinkman confirmed that during the delay, one of the resolutions being discussed was forfeiting the game to the Rangers.

"We had mentioned [a forfeit], but we thought about it and felt it probably wasn't a good idea," Brinkman said.

The Rangers did not return their entire relief corps to the visitors' bullpen for the remainder of the game. When lefty Bryan Shouse came out to warm up for the bottom of the ninth, he was given as much time as he needed while pitching coach Orel Hershiser watched over from behind the mound. Francisco Cordero, meanwhile, got a few tosses in from the bullpen before issuing three walks in the 10th for his fourth blown save in 48 chances this season.

"It's unfortunate, and it's not the first time it's happened here," said Showalter, who mentioned the incident last year in which a fan was accused of throwing a cell phone at then-Rangers outfielder Carl Everett. "The security people can only do so much."

Francisco was not available for comment after the game, and Brocail declined interview requests. The Rangers received a police escort to their team bus and their hotel.

John Schlegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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