Giants manager calls radio host comments 'racist'
By JANIE McCAULEY, Associated Press
Aug 7, 2011 2:12 PM CDT
Philadelphia Phillies' Shane Victorino, left, is restrained by home plate umpire Mike Muchlinski, after Victorino was hit by a pitch thrown by San Francisco Giants' Ramon Ramirez, right, during the inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 5, 2011, in San Francisco. The altercation caused a benches clearing...   (Associated Press)

Giants manager Bruce Bochy has criticized a nationally syndicated radio host for what he says is a "racist" comment about San Francisco reliever Ramon Ramirez.

Radio host Tony Bruno referred to Ramirez as an "illegal alien." He also called Bochy a "coward" in a Twitter post following Friday night's benches-clearing brawl between the Phillies and Giants. The mayhem came after Ramirez plunked Shane Victorino in the back in the sixth inning of the Phillies' 9-2 victory.

Bruno's show is broadcast on local station KNBR 1050 AM. He later deleted his tweet and apologized on his Facebook page.

Ramirez is from the Dominican Republic. He has declined to discuss the brawl but said Sunday he is in the U.S. legally and wouldn't be able to work in the major leagues otherwise.

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