Joyce suspended for gay slur aimed at fan

Oakland Athletics 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. He also apologized through the team. Joyce, 33, 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.

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.

As Joyce returned to the dugout, he uttered several profanities at the fan, called him a gay slur and challenged him to fight, according to Associated Press photographer Mark J. Terrill, who overheard the exchange.

Hernandez lands on DL: The Seattle Mariners put Felix Hernandez on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to Wednesday, with biceps tendinitis. Hernandez, 31, was scheduled to start Saturday night against the Kansas City Royals. Left-hander Marco Gonzalez was recalled from Class AAA Tacoma to take his turn in the rotation. This is Hernandez’s second trip to the DL 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.