MLB Notes: A's Outfielder Matt Joyce Suspended 2 Games for Gay Slur

Oakland outfielder Matt Joyce received a two-game suspension without pay Saturday for directing a gay slur toward a fan in Anaheim and he will take part in a public outreach initiative with PFLAG, a family and ally organization supporting LGBTQ community.

Major League Baseball made the announcement, saying Joyce's penalty was set to begin Saturday, when he also apologized through the team. Joyce said he is "beyond sorry," and the Athletics also made a statement insisting his language was unacceptable and wouldn't be tolerated.

The A's are donating more than $54,000 of Joyce's lost salary to PFLAG.

"In regard to last night's incident, I sincerely apologize to the fans, the Oakland A's, MLB and most importantly the LGBTQ community for my comments and actions," Joyce's statement said. "A fan yelled vulgar and obscene words about me and my family and I let my frustrations and emotions get the better of me.

"I am beyond sorry for the inappropriate language that I used and understand and agree that those words should NEVER come out of someone's mouth no matter the situation. Anyone who knows me will tell you that it is not reflective of me as a person, how I treat others, how I live my life and that those hurtful words are not my views. I fully support and hope to help the LGBTQ community with their efforts in being treated fairly. I intend to let my actions speak louder than anything more that can be said about this truly regrettable moment."

The exchange occurred in the eighth inning of Los Angeles' 8-6 win after Angels first baseman C.J. Cron made a diving stop of Joyce's hard-hit grounder (see full story).

Braves call up top pitching prospect Max Fried
ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Braves have called up left-hander Max Fried, one of the team's top prospects, to pitch out of the bullpen.

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He's the second prospect to join the Braves this week after second baseman Ozzie Albies was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett

Fried, the No. 7 overall draft pick of 2012, was traded from San Diego to Atlanta in December 2014, four months after having Tommy John surgery. After missing 2015, he went 8-7 with a 3.93 ERA in 20 starts and one relief appearance for Single-A Rome last year.

The 23-year-old Fried struggled this season with a blister, going 2-11 with a 5.92 ERA in 19 starts for Double-A Mississippi. After sitting out a month, he allowed no earned runs, 12 baserunners and struck out nine in his last 10 innings.

Braves manager Brian Snitker said Fried will begin his career in relief, but he could get a chance to make spot start.

Right-hander Jason Hursh was optioned to Gwinnett. Infielder Jace Peterson was recalled from Gwinnett to take the spot of Sean Rodriguez, who was traded to Pittsburgh earlier in the day.

Mariners put Hernandez on DL, recall Gonzalez
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Seattle Mariners put Felix Hernandez on the 10-day disabled list Saturday, retroactive to Wednesday, with biceps tendinitis.

Hernandez was scheduled to start Saturday night against the Kansas City Royals. Left-hander Marco Gonzalez was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma to take his rotation turn.

This is Hernandez's second trip to the disabled this season. He was out April 26 to June 23 with shoulder bursitis. He is 3-2 with a 4.02 ERA in eight starts since coming off the disabled list. In his previous start Monday at Texas, he allowed four runs on six hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision.

Gonzales was acquired in a July 21 trade with the St. Louis Cardinals for outfielder on Tyler O'Neill. He went 2-0 with a 4.50 ERA in two starts with Tacoma.

The Cardinals drafted Gonzalez in the first round in 2013 out of Gonzaga. He missed last season after having Tommy John surgery.

Giants place Belt on concussion DL, call up Sandoval
SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco Giants placed first baseman Brandon Belt on the seven-day concussion list Saturday and called up third baseman Pablo Sandoval.

Belt was hit in the head by a 78.9 mph curveball from Arizona rookie Anthony Banda on Friday night. He was down while being attended to by Giants head athletic trainer Dave Groeschner.

It is believed to be Belt's fourth concussion with San Francisco.

The move to bring up Sandoval reunites the 2012 World Series MVP with his first team in the majors, when the Giants won three championships.

Sandoval signed a minor league contract with San Francisco on July 22 after he was released by Boston, which signed him to a $95 million, five-year deal after the 2014 season.

Sandoval hit just .237 with 14 homers and 59 RBIs during 2 injury-decimated seasons with the Red Sox. Sandoval has played for Class A San Jose and Triple-A Sacramento since rejoining the Giants organization.

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