ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 13: Yovani Gallardo #49 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws to a St. Louis Cardinals batter during the first inning at Busch Stadium on April 13, 2013 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images) (2013 Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo was hit with a drunk driving charge Tuesday after authorities said he was driving on a city highway with a blood-alcohol content nearly three times the legal limit.
Deputies responded about 2 a.m. to a report of a possibly intoxicated driver, Milwaukee County sheriff's spokeswoman Fran McLaughlin said. She said a caller reported seeing a driver repeatedly swerving between lanes, and deputies spotted Gallardo driving alone at 40 mph in a 55-mph zone.
"He was very cooperative," McLaughlin said. "He said he had a couple of beers."
The arrest report said Gallardo had red glassy eyes, slurred speech and an odor of alcohol, and that he failed field-sobriety tests. Authorities say a breath test revealed a blood-alcohol level of 0.22, nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08, and the reading was matched by a second breath test following his arrest.
The Brewers issued a statement saying they were aware of Gallardo's situation.
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"We have expressed our disappointment to him and know he understands that behavior of this nature is of great concern to everyone in the organization," the statement said. "Yovani has acknowledged the seriousness of this incident and is taking full accountability for his actions."
The team was opening a three-game home series against San Francisco on Tuesday night.
In Wisconsin, first-offense drunken driving is a citation, not a misdemeanor or felony charge. McLaughlin said Gallardo faces nearly $800 in fines for drunken driving and for unsafe driving.
Gallardo was a 16-game winner last season, his fourth consecutive season with at least 200 strikeouts. But he gave up six runs in a loss Saturday to St. Louis and is 0-1 in three starts this season with a 6.61 ERA. The team have already endured a 32-inning scoreless streak and entered Tuesday's game at 3-8, worst in the Central Division.
Based on reporting by The Associated Press.
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