Wells Loses Two Teeth During Attack at Diner

Pitcher David Wells of the New York Yankees was punched in the head and lost two teeth when he was attacked by a man waving a butter knife at a diner early Saturday, police said.

Wells, 39, refused medical attention after the assault at 5:50 a.m. at the restaurant on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

Rocco Graziosa, 27, of Yonkers, N.Y., was arrested and charged with assault and menacing.

Police said they did not know whether Graziosa was being held or released, or if a court appearance had been scheduled. Calls to the district attorney’s office and Graziosa’s home were not immediately returned.

Wells was at the diner with a friend--not a teammate--when Graziosa walked in with some friends and began chatting with the pitcher, police Sgt. David Jorin said.

After the conversation, Graziosa went to his table and made a remark about Wells’ mother, who is dead.

A few moments later, Graziosa grabbed a butter knife off the table, began waving it and attacked Wells, police said. Wells called 911, and police arrived and made the arrest.