A police video captured Tampa Bay Devil Rays owner Vince Naimoli waving his arms and yelling at an officer after Naimoli’s wife was stopped for running a red light near Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.
A police report said Naimoli’s wife, Lenda, was following her husband’s car after the Devil Rays’ game Saturday night. Naimoli drove his white Mercedes through a yellow light, but his wife didn’t make it before the light turned red, the report said.
St. Petersburg officer Scott Newell pulled over Lenda Naimoli’s car; her husband pulled over and approached the officer.
“Do you know who I am?” Newell said Naimoli yelled at him. “I’m Vincent Joseph Naimoli, owner of the Devil Rays. That’s my wife! She was following me!”
Naimoli, 66, also threatened to call the police chief and other city officials. Newell said he had to order Naimoli to return to his car three times before he complied.
“He was red-faced and yelling,” Newell wrote in the report. A video camera mounted in Newell’s cruiser recorded the incident without audio.
Newell issued Lenda Naimoli, 60, a $114.50 ticket for running a red light.
In a statement released by the team, Naimoli said he didn’t think at the time of the traffic stop that his wife had run the light.
Extra innings
Kansas City first baseman Mike Sweeney left the Royals’ game against the White Sox in the fifth inning because of back spasms. . . . First baseman John Olerud signed with the New York Yankees. . . . The Detroit Tigers designated reliever Danny Patterson for assignment.
TUESDAY’S GAMES
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
Seattle 7 at Baltimore 9
W: Grimsley (4-5)
L: Nageotte (1-5)
S: Julio (16)
Orioles’ Rafael Palmeiro tied Babe Ruth on all-time hits list and drove in 3 runs in 1st game of day-night DH. Palmeiro went 2-for-3 in collecting his 2,873rd career hit to tie Ruth for 36th place.
Seattle 4 at Baltimore 5
W: Julio (2-2)
L: Sherrill (0-1)
Palmeiro passed Ruth with 1 hit in nightcap, while Melvin Mora and Larry Bigbie homered. Jerry Hairston’s RBI single plated go-ahead run in 8th as O’s won 1st home series since May 7-9.
Texas 5 at Detroit 4
W: Francisco (3-1)
L: Robertson (9-6)
S: Cordero (32)
Mark Teixeira and Kevin Mench homered, and Eric Young hit tiebreaking RBI single in 7th as Rangers won for just 3rd time in last 10. Kenny Rogers started for Texas, but failed to win 14th.
Cleveland 6 at Toronto 7
W: Speier (3-6)
L: Betancourt (4-5)
S: Frasor (14)
PH Frank Menechino drew bases-loaded walk off of Rick White to drive in go-ahead run in 8th. Trailing 5-3, Blue Jays sent 10 batters to plate in 4-run inning. Carlos Delgado hit 2-run HR in inning.
Oakland 13 at N.Y. Yankees 4
W: Mulder (15-3)
L: Lieber (7-7)
Scott Hatteberg homered twice and had 5 RBIs, while Mark Mulder claimed major league-leading 15th victory. N.Y. led 4-1 after 3 innings, but A’s scored 3 in 4th and 4 in 5th to win 9th of last 10.
Boston 5 at Tampa Bay 2
W: Schilling (13-5)
L: Bell (4-5)
Curt Schilling pitched 6-hitter for his 3rd complete game of year and Jason Varitek hit a 2-run HR for Red Sox. Schilling struck out 7 and walked 1 in his 82nd career complete game.
Anaheim 0 at Minnesota 10
W: Silva (10-7)
L: Lackey (9-10)
Despite yielding 11 hits, Carlos Silva pitched 1st career complete game and shutout. Torri Hunter, Corey Koskie, Justin Morneau and Henry Blanco hit HRs for Twins, who won 12th of last 14.
