HARTFORD, Conn. — A high school classmate of Minnesota Twins pitcher Carl Pavano threatened to reveal an alleged homosexual relationship they had and to write a book about it unless Pavano apologized to him and bought him a navy Range Rover SUV with tan leather, according to a search warrant affidavit filed by police in Connecticut.
Police in Pavano’s hometown of Southington, about 18 miles southwest of Hartford, said in the affidavit that they began investigating the allegations after Pavano’s sister, Michelle DeGennaro, complained in December that she had received several troublesome Facebook messages from the classmate, Christian Bedard. DeGennaro told police that Bedard made up a bogus story about having a relationship with her brother in an attempt to extort her family.
Officers executed the search warrant at Bedard’s home March 21 and seized items but wouldn’t say what they were. Bedard said on his Facebook page that police took his laptop computer, material relating to his relationship with Pavano and the book he was writing. Bedard hasn’t been charged.
The search warrant affidavit, first reported by the Record-Journal of Meriden, includes copies of several Facebook messages Bedard allegedly sent to DeGennaro. In the messages, Bedard, 36, said Pavano was his “first love” and they had a three-year relationship when they were teenagers growing up in Southington, the affidavit says.
Cespedes’ homer gives Athletics series split
TOKYO — With his first major league home run, Yoenis Cespedes helped the Oakland Athletics gain a split of their season-opening series against the Seattle Mariners.
The Cuban defector’s go-ahead, two-run drive in the seventh inning off reliever Shawn Kelly sent the A’s on to a 4-1 victory Thursday night at Tokyo Dome.
Around the majors
PHILLIES: Outfielder Juan Pierre made Philadelphia’s opening-day roster. The Phillies selected the contract of Pierre, 34, from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday after a 2-1 exhibition win over Tampa Bay. Pierre had agreed in January to a minor league deal that gave him the right to opt out if not put on the big-lleague roster by March 30.
RAYS: Center fielder B.J. Upton will start the season on the disabled list with a back injury. Until recently, Tampa Bay had been holding out hope that Upton could be ready for opening day.
INDIANS: Cleveland Iacquired reliever Jairo Asencio from the Atlanta Braves for cash. Ascenio, 28,was on the Braves’ restricted list all of 2010 after it was discovered he had come to the U.S as Luis Valdez and claimed to be three years younger.
GIANTS: San Francisco is committed to keeping All-Star right-hander Matt Cain in its talented rotation beyond 2012, and Giants CEO and president Larry Baer said that serious conversations are ongoing with the pitcher’s representatives.
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