Hancock’s father sues restaurant

The father of Josh Hancock filed suit Thursday, claiming a restaurant provided drinks to the St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher even though he was intoxicated before the crash that killed him.

The suit, filed in St. Louis Circuit Court by Dean Hancock of Tupelo, Miss., does not specify damages. Mike Shannon’s Restaurant, owned by the longtime Cardinals broadcaster who played on three World Series teams in the 1960s, is a defendant in the case along with Shannon’s daughter, Patricia Shannon Van Matre, the restaurant manager.

Other defendants include Eddie’s Towing, the company whose flatbed tow truck was struck by Hancock’s sport utility vehicle in the early hours of April 29; tow truck driver Jacob Edward Hargrove; and Justin Tolar, whose stalled car on Interstate 64 was being assisted by Hargrove.

Authorities said the 29-year-old pitcher had a blood content of nearly twice the legal limit for alcohol in his system when he crashed into the back of the tow truck. He was also speeding, using a cellphone and wasn’t wearing a seat belt..

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Roger Clemens probably will make another minor league start before rejoining the New York Yankees.

Clemens struggled a bit Wednesday night, giving up three runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings for double-A Trenton with four walks, five strikeouts, a hit batter and a wild pitch.

Although a final decision won’t be made until after a bullpen session Friday, there’s a good chance the 44-year-old right-hander will start Monday at triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre against Toledo, several Yankees officials said Thursday.

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Ryan Howard is expected to come off the disabled list and rejoin the Philadelphia Phillies in Atlanta today, after completing a rehabilitation assignment with Class-A Lakewood.

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Commissioner Bud Selig probably will decide within a week or two what, if anything, to do with Jason Giambi. The New York Yankees’ designated hitter was questioned Wednesday by management lawyers for recent comments in USA Today that could have been interpreted as an admission of steroids use.