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K-Rod Arraigned For Allegedly Punching His Girlfriend's Father

By Jim Scott | August 12, 2010 7:21am | Updated on August 12, 2010 5:29pm
Francisco Rodriguez is led into Queens Criminal Court Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010.
Francisco Rodriguez is led into Queens Criminal Court Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010.
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AP Photo/Jason DeCrow

By Jim Scott

DNAinfo Senior Editor

MANHATTAN — Fiery Mets relief pitcher, Francisco Rodriguez, faces a two-game suspension and banishment from his home after being arraigned on assault and harassment charges on Thursday for allegedly punching his girlfriend's father in the Citi Field clubhouse, Wednesday night.

The Mets suspended Rodriguez, nicknamed K-Rod, without pay, which will cost him more than $125,000 unless he successfully appeals the decision, the Daily News reported.

K-Rod was released without bail on Thursday but was not allowed back to the Long Island home he shares with his common-law wife and her father due to a restraining order imposed by a Queens judge, the paper reported.

New York closer Francisco Rodriguez has 25 saves in 30 chances this season for the Mets.
New York closer Francisco Rodriguez has 25 saves in 30 chances this season for the Mets.
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Al Bello/Getty Images

K-Rod allegedly fought with his girlfriend's 53-year-old father, Carlos Pena, around 10:15 p.m. in the Mets clubhouse, according to the New York Post. Stadium security took K-Rod into custody after the incident and police later arrested him on charges of third-degree assault.

“There was an incident at the ballpark between Francisco Rodriguez and his family. He was questioned by police and all other questions pertaining to this matter can be addressed to police,” Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz told the Associated Press.

Pena was taken away from Citi Field by an ambulance and was seen with scrape on his face and a bump on his head, the AP reported.

The 28-year-old Rodriguez was held overnight at the ballpark so he wouldn't have to spend time with other inmates at the police station or central booking, the Post reported.

K-Rod's arrest punctuated a bad night for the hurler as well as the other Mets on the field for New York. Manager Jerry Manuel tapped reliever Manny Acosta to come into the tie game with two outs and the bases loaded in the eighth inning. Acosta immediately served up a grand slam to Melvin Mora in the Mets 6-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday.

Rodriguez cursed at a reporter who asked him after the game about the manager's decision to use another pitcher out of the bullpen in the eighth inning, according to several reports.

"Did, I f-----g pitch tonight?" Rodriguez exclaimed. "Why do I have to talk to you f-----g guys?"

K-Rod's arrest is just one of several dust ups he's had in his 1 1/2 seasons in New York. Rodriguez argued with Mets bullpen coach Randy Niemann before coming into a game in May. Last season, he got into a heated exchange on a team bus with former Mets official Tony Bernazard.

On the field, Rodriguez is 4-2 with 25 saves in 30 opportunities and a 2.24 ERA for the Mets this season. K-Rod signed a three-year, $37 million contract with the Mets after posting a record 62 saves with the Angels in 2008.