AROUND THE HORN

■ Rockies, Marlins: The Rockies said a fan was yelling the name of team mascot Dinger and not a racial slur. The Black player who was batting at the time isn’t so sure. Marlins OF Lewis Brinson said he didn’t hear the fan shouting during Sunday’s game at Coors Field. But a day later, he’d reviewed the tape and had a different opinion. “So I watched the video at least 50 times in the past 15-16 hours,” Brinson said on a Zoom call before Monday night’s road game against the Padres. “I watched it a lot, especially when I heard that he said Dinger instead of the N-word. I personally — this is again my personal opinion — I personally keep hearing the N-word. It’s not that I want to hear it, I never want to hear it. Personally I’ve never been called that in person to my face on the baseball field, outside the baseball field, ever, so I don’t know what my reaction would be if I got called that. But to now, saying that again, I haven’t talked to the Rockies or that fan personally. If that’s the case, then I’m sorry for any backlash or anything he’s getting right now.” Brinson hit a HR and a single and scored twice Monday night in an 8-3 loss to the Padres. The Rockies said Monday that the fan, who wasn’t identified, was actually hollering at the club’s purple, polka-dotted dinosaur mascot. Brinson said he didn’t hear the fan during his at-bat and had no idea what was going on until after the game and started getting messages on Instagram. “My initial reaction was upset, man. Nobody wants to be called that. It’s a disrespectful, disgusting word that belittles my people, Black people. It’s a disgusting word and nobody wants to hear it,” Brinson said Monday. “I was in shock. I’m getting a lot of love and support on Instagram and I’m sure on Twitter. I appreciate that wholeheartedly, 100%. Again I’m a human, I have sympathy. If he was yelling for the mascot, I am sorry for any backlash or any unnecessary attention he’s getting right now. But this does happen in our game. I don’t know if a lot of people know this. Again personally, I’ve never been called that ... but I know a lot of Black players have and it’s disgusting and needs to stop like right now. There’s no place for that in sports, there’s no place for that in life. I just don’t want to have that situation thrown under the rug.”... Marlins manager Don Mattingly, sidelined since he tested positive for COVID19 on July 31, is expected to rejoin the team Friday. The 60-year-old Mattingly, who was vaccinated in mid-april, experienced mild symptoms. The last-place Marlins plan to return to the dugout when they start a homestand Friday against the Cubs. James Rowson has been the Marlins’ acting manager in Mattingly’s absence. Mattingly was voted NL manager of the year in 2020 after he guided the Marlins to their first postseason appearance since 2003.

■ Dodgers: OF Mookie Betts was scratched from the lineup Tuesday against the Phillies with a sore right hip that could send him to the IL. Manager Dave Roberts said before the game that an IL stint “is very probable” for Betts. The 28-year-old former AL MVP while with the Red Sox is hitting .277 with 17 HRS and 44 RBIS in 87 games for the defending World Series champs.

■ Indians: Manager Terry Francona is recuperating at his Cleveland apartment after hip replacement surgery Monday. Francona, 62, stepped down for the season July 29.