Choo has 2 RBIs, run in away win after 0-16 hitting slump

Choo Shin-soo of the Cleveland Indians has regained his hitting form after going 0-16 at the plate in four games after being arrested for drunk driving.

He batted third and started at right field in an away game against the Los Angeles Angels Saturday, and went 2-4 including a two-RBI double and one run. He raised his batting average to .226 and his RBI tally to 17 in the 4-3 come-from-behind win.

The league secretariat will also hand down more severe penalties for players who get caught with a DUI. New provisions on punishing drunk driving are expected in the league`s labor-management agreement.

Choo and teammate Austin Kearns, Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers, Coco Crisp of the Oakland A`s, Adam Kennedy of the Seattle Mariners, and Derek Rowe of the Atlanta Braves have been caught for drunk driving this season alone. Their teams gave them small fines but none received external punishments including suspensions.

Fans have reacted angrily to the light punishment, however. Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen got a two-game suspension for writing on Twitter about his ejection over protesting the umpire’s call.

Fans have criticized the league for being too lenient on players, with one asking if a Twitter post is worse than drunk driving.

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