Chair thrower gets another chance to hurl for Rangers

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SEATTLE -- The Texas Rangers on Friday recalled right-hander Frank Francisco, who pleaded no contest to misdemeanor assault for throwing a chair that broke the nose of an Oakland Athletics female fan two years ago.

He was sentenced to a work program and anger management classes.

Manager Buck Showalter said before Friday night's game that he plans to use Francisco in the final weeks of the season.

The 26-year-old had spent this season in the minor leagues after undergoing ligament replacement surgery in April 2005. He hasn't pitched in a major league game since Sept. 17, 2004.

This season, he pitched in 13 games and 14 2/3 innings for Double-A Frisco, where he had no record with a 1.84 ERA, and four games and 4 innings at Class A Spokane, where he had no record and no ERA.

In 2004, Francisco pitched in 45 games for the Rangers, compiling a 5-1 record with a 3.33 ERA.

On Sept. 13, 2004, Francisco threw the chair in the stands during a loss to the A's at Oakland after a group of fans seated near the bullpen began heckling players. The chair hit Jennifer Bueno of Livermore, Calif., whose husband, Craig, was among the hecklers. The chair broke her nose.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press

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