Farnsworth's suspension cut from 3 games to 1

DETROIT — Kyle Farnsworth's suspension was cut from three games to one Friday by Major League Baseball following an appeal by the New York Yankees reliever.

"It was a good deal," Farnsworth said. "Our appeal went well. I thought it was going to be two at the least, so I was happy to hear that."

Farnsworth was to serve the suspension Friday, the start of a series at the Detroit Tigers.

"One day sure beats three," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Obviously, you hate to have a guy out for a day. We'll deal with it, and I'm glad it's over with and behind us. We'll miss him tonight."

Bob Watson, baseball's vice president in charge of discipline, announced the original penalty April 19, two days after Farnsworth threw a fastball behind the neck of Boston Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez. Farnsworth wasn't ejected and said the ball slipped.

John McHale Jr., executive vice president for administration in the commissioner's office, heard Farnsworth's appeal Tuesday.

Kei Igawa, the Yankees' starter Friday night, was recalled from Scranton/Wilkes Barre, and the right-hander Chris Britton was optioned to the Triple-A team before the game. Britton pitched 2 2-3 scoreless relief innings on May 1 against the Tigers — his only appearance of the season.

Igawa went 3-3 with a 3.86 ERA in seven starts in Triple-A after going 2-3 with a 6.25 ERA in 14 games with the Yankees last season. It was to be his first major league outing this year.

"I'm anxious to see him tonight. He's throwing pretty well in Triple-A," Girardi said before the game. "I'm not asking him to throw a shutout or go nine (innings) tonight, just give us a chance."

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