Furcal charged with DUI, speeding, reckless driving

ATLANTA -- Braves shortstop Rafael Furcal was arrested on drunken driving charges Friday, his second DUI arrest in four years and a potential distraction to a team trying to wrap up its 13th straight division title.

Furcal wasn't in the lineup for Friday night's game against Montreal, though the team planned no immediate disciplinary action. Manager Bobby Cox said his leadoff hitter could be back on the field as soon as Saturday.

"The embarrassment that I'm sure Raffy is suffering is felt by us all," general manager John Schuerholz said. "We're sorry it happened. It's behind us now. Hopefully we can go on to battle for the division title."

Furcal, who was charged with driving under the influence, speeding and reckless driving, arrived at Turner Field about 1½ hours before the game. He had spent much of the day in two separate Atlanta area jails.

Rafael Furcal is already on probation due to a previous drunken driving conviction.(AP)

"I'm OK," he said as he walked into the ballpark. "It's crazy."

Furcal was taken to the city jail after being arrested before dawn on Interstate 85, according to a police report. He was clocked at 88 mph in a 55 mph zone.

Furcal paid a $3,200 bond in cash, but he immediately was transferred to the suburban Cobb County jail for a probation violation stemming from his June 2000 arrest on similar charges. An Oct. 8 court hearing was set in that case -- which could be while the Braves are involved in the playoffs.

A $5,000 bond was posted Friday afternoon so Furcal could be released from the county jail.

After being pulled over, Furcal said he drank two beers that night and pleaded, "I play for the Braves. Can you give me a chance?" the arresting officer wrote in the report.

After Furcal failed a field sobriety test, police say he again asked the officer for a break. "I've got one (DUI conviction) already," the officer wrote in the report.

When tested later, Furcal registered a blood alcohol level of 0.127, above the legal Georgia limit of 0.08.

Furcal, the 2000 National League rookie of the year, is batting .287 with 12 homers, 53 RBI and 24 stolen bases this season. He had two hits and two stolen bases in the Braves' 9-4 loss to Philadelphia on Thursday night; he was arrested about five hours after the game ended.