Piazza Penalty Reduced

Mike Piazza’s suspension for charging the mound in spring training was reduced to four games, and the New York Met catcher will start serving the penalty today.

The decision to shorten the ban by one game was made by Bob DuPuy, baseball’s chief operating officer. If games are played as scheduled, Piazza would be able to return to the lineup Sunday against Montreal.

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Montreal pitcher Livan Hernandez settled charges that he swung golf clubs at a 65-year-old man in Miami.

Prosecutors will drop charges of felony aggravated assault and battery on the elderly if Hernandez attends anger management classes, performs 50 hours of community service and donates $500 to charity.