MINNEAPOLIS — The Rays have immediately suspended their discounted pizza promotion with Papa John's after company founder and chairman John Schnatter acknowledged using a racial slur during a media training exercise in May.

Schnatter resigned late Wednesday and apologized for using the slur, the company said.

The popular promotion offered fans half-price pizzas the day after the Rays scored six or more runs in a game.

The Marlins also suspended a similar promotion, saying in a statement that Schnatter's "derogatory and insensitive" comments were not reflective of their organizational values and the inclusive environment they seek to provide.

And Major League Baseball has indefinitely suspended its "Papa Slam" promotion with Papa John's, Yahoo Sports reported. The promotion allowed baseball fans to get 40 percent off their order at Papa John's the day after any player hit a grand slam by using an online coupon code.