updated 10:02 p.m. ET June 30, 2005

SAN FRANCISCO - Texas Rangers pitcher Frank Francisco pleaded no contest Thursday to misdemeanor assault and was sentenced to a work program and anger management classes.

Francisco, 25, was accused of tossing a chair at an Oakland Athletics fan last Sept. 13.

Superior Court Judge Michael Gaffey sentenced Francisco to 30 days in jail, which can be served in a work detail. Francisco received 10 days off for good behavior. Gaffey also ordered that Francisco attend 26 anger management cases, one class a week for six months, according to prosecutors.

“I think the judge gave this a lot of consideration. This was a thoughtful sentence,” Alameda County deputy district attorney Erin Kingsbury said.

Francisco was also placed on three years probation and ordered to perform 500 hours of community service, according to prosecutors.

Kingsbury said Francisco will be able to satisfy the terms of the sentence in Texas, which should allow him to continue his baseball career. Francisco is sidelined for the remainder of this season with an injured right elbow.

The judge also imposed a 179-day suspended sentence, meaning Francisco could serve jail time if arrested again.

Defense lawyer Rick Minkoff said he was “not pleased” with the sentence.

“Under the circumstances I understand what the judge is doing,” Minkoff said. “I think the work time is excessive and I said that in court.”

Minkoff said he had not spoken to Francisco yet.

Francisco’s lawyer, Rick Minkoff, did not return several phone messages requesting comment.

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Francisco threw the chair in the stands during a loss to the A’s at Oakland after a group of fans seated near the bullpen began heckling players. The chair hit Jennifer Bueno of Livermore, whose husband Craig was among the hecklers. The chair broke Jennifer Bueno’s nose.

Francisco was not required to appear in court because the case was a misdemeanor. Bueno has filed a lawsuit against Francisco, teammates Doug Brocail and Carlos Almanzar, and the Rangers.

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