Officer accused of slur of Crawford under investigation

LEOMINSTER, Mass. — A Massachusetts police officer is under investigation after allegations that he directed a racial slur at Boston Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford last week.

Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella said the patrolman is on vacation and will be put on desk duty when he returns next week.

The mayor said Friday that he expects the inquiry to conclude by Tuesday, and that officials are hoping to interview Crawford as part of the probe.

Crawford, who is black, was on a rehab assignment with the Portland Sea Dogs on July 5 when he says before a game against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in Manchester, N.H., a heckling fan called him a "monday," which can be a derogatory term for blacks and is often associated with Mondays being one of the least-liked days of the week.

Notes

• The Boston Red Sox have activated center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury from the disabled list and inserted him into their starting lineup.

Ellsbury was the leadoff hitter for Friday night's game against Tampa Bay. He has been out since hurting his right shoulder on April 13.

• The Baltimore Orioles agreed to a contract with right-hander Kevin Gausman, the No. 4 overall pick in this year's draft, for a $4.32 million signing bonus.

• Lance Berkman expects to come off the disabled list on Saturday and rejoin the St. Louis Cardinals ahead of schedule in his comeback from knee surgery.

The first baseman accompanied the team to Cincinnati and had an intensified workout Friday before the opening game of a series against the Reds. The Cardinals planned to activate him a day later.

• Mark Appel, the No. 8 pick in this year's draft, spurned the Pittsburgh Pirates and decided to remain at Stanford for his senior season, one of the first big casualties of baseball's new restrictions on amateur signing bonuses.