OAKLAND, Calif. – Oakland Athletics pitcher Esteban Loaiza faced drunken driving and speeding charges today after police clocked his Ferrari exceeding 120 mph on a freeway near San Lorenzo.
Loaiza was jailed early Wednesday after he failed a sobriety test, said California Highway Patrol spokesman Mike Wright. He was released from jail later that day and scheduled to appear in court July 14.
Loaiza, 1-3 with a 6.89 ERA, took the mound today against the Seattle Mariners, his second start since coming off the disabled list.
"This is a very serious situation," A's manager Ken Macha said. "You hope everybody takes care of their well-being. I asked him how he was doing, and he said he was all right. He's concerned with what may happen."
Loaiza signed a three-year, $21 million contract with the A's in November after playing with the Washington Nationals in 2005.