By Rebecca Klapper
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A Colorado Rockies fan accused of repeatedly yelling a racial slur at Miami Marlins outfielder Lewis Brinson said he had actually been trying to get the attention of the club's mascot "Dinger," a purple and polka-dotted dinosaur, the Associated Press reported.
Fans who were seated nearby contacted the club in defense of the fan after the team put out a statement saying it was disgusted by the use of racial slurs against Brinson when he was up in the ninth inning of the game Sunday.
The club then contacted the fan, who said it was a misunderstanding and that he had been shouting to get the attention of Dinger, who was two sections over.
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The Rockies have no plans to change the mascot's name, and the fan was not identified.
For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below.
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The man's shouts were picked up by both teams' broadcasts, although the Bally Sports Florida broadcast was clearer than Colorado's because Rockies broadcaster Drew Goodman was talking at the time.
Nobody on the field, including Brinson, reacted to the shouts.
After the game, Marlins spokesman Jason Latimer said the team was aware of the clip.
"Neither Lewis, nor any other Marlins on the field or in the dugout, heard what was shouted," he said in a text message to AP. "We brought the matter to the attention of the Rockies. How the matter is being handled, I would have to defer to them."
The Rockies condemned the suspected conduct in a statement released Sunday night.
"The Colorado Rockies are disgusted at the racial slur by a fan directed at the Marlins' Lewis Brinson during the ninth inning of today's game," the team said. "Although the subject was not identified prior to the end of the game, the Rockies are still investigating this incident.
"The Rockies have zero tolerance for any form of racism or discrimination, and any fan using derogatory language of any kind will be ejected and banned from Coors Field."
Fans had started to fill the lower deck of the stadium in the late innings, moving closer for a postgame concert that was part of a Faith Day celebration.
Team officials weren't able to debrief ushers in the area where the fan shouted until after the concert about an hour later.
Brinson got two hits and scored twice, and drew a walk in the ninth inning. The 27-year-old is in his fifth season in the major leagues.
After the game, the Marlins flew to San Diego, where they start a series Monday night.
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