San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. was suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball on Friday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.
The penalty was effective immediately, meaning the All-Star shortstop cannot play in the majors this year.
MLB said Tatis tested positive for Clostebol, a performance-enhancing substance.
“It turns out that I inadvertently took a medication to treat ringworm that contained Clostebol,” Tatis said in a statement released by the players’ union. “I should have used the resources available to me in order to ensure that no banned substances were in what I took. I failed to do so.”
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“I have no excuse for my error, and I would never do anything to cheat or disrespect this game I love,” he said, adding, “I am completely devastated.”
Freddy Galvis and Dee Gordon are among the major leaguers previously suspended for using Clostebol, an anabolic steroid that can be used for ophthalmological and dermatological use. It is also banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, and Olympic gold medal-winning cross-country skier Therese Johaug was suspended in 2016 after testing positive for it.
Tatis had been on the injured list this season after breaking his left wrist in mid-March. He recently had begun a rehabilitation assignment in Double A and the playoff-contending Padres hoped he could return and boost their chances down the stretch.
“We were surprised and extremely disappointed to learn today that Fernando Tatis Jr. tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Prevention and Treatment Program and subsequently received an 80-game suspension without pay," the Padres said in a statement. "We fully support the program and are hopeful that Fernando will learn from this experience.”
The 23-year-old Tatis was an All-Star last season. Flashy at the plate and in the field, he was considered one of the bright, fresh faces of big league baseball.
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Later on, Juan Soto had two hits and got a standing ovation in his return to Washington as San Diego beat the Nationals ,10-5.
Soto, a World Series champion in 2019 with Washington, was traded to San Diego on Aug. 2. The Nationals welcomed Soto back with a highlight package, and Soto thanked Washington fans in a prerecorded video. He received a standing ovation during his first at-bat. Soto raised his helmet, then hugged Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz before stepping into the familiar batter’s box.
Streaking Orioles pass Rays
Jorge Mateo had a career-high five hits, Adley Rutschman and Cedric Mullins each homered off the Tropicana Field catwalk, and the Orioles beat the Rays, 10-3.
Rougned Odor had four of the Orioles’ season-most 19 hits as Baltimore won for the eighth time in 10 games and moved into an AL wild-card spot, a half-game ahead of the Rays.
Nothing to show for Kopech
Michael Kopech struck out a career-best 11 in six innings of no-hit ball and Andrew Vaughn hit a tiebreaking two-run single in the seventh inning, leading the White Sox to a 2-0 victory over the visiting Tigers.
Kopech was lifted despite blanking the Tigers on 85 pitches through six innings.
Reynaldo López (5-2) got a smattering of boos when he came to the mound to start the seventh, and they got louder after leadoff batter Javier Báez laced a single into right-center field. López retired the next three batters to end the inning.
Vaughn snapped the scoreless game with a two-out, bases-loaded blooper that landed just in front of right fielder Willi Castro’s glove. Tigers reliever Alex Lange (4-3) took the loss as Detroit lost its fifth straight and eighth in nine games.
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Later on in Kansas City, the Dodgers’ Tony Gonsolin took a no-hit try into the seventh inning as Los Angeles won its 11th straight game, beating the Royals, 8-3. Gonsolin (14-1) tied Atlanta’s Kyle Wright for the NL wins lead. The Dodgers, with the best record in the majors, broke open the game on Trayce Thompson’s three-run homer in the eighth.
Mets lose two players and game
Mets infielders Jeff McNeil and Eduardo Escobar left Friday’s game with injuries, which led up to their 2-1 loss in 10 innings to the visiting Phillies. The Mets said McNeil had a right thumb laceration and Escobar suffered tightness in his left side that will require an MRI.
McNeil tried to duck under the tag of Philadelphia’s Rhys Hoskins on a grounder in the second inning, and his head collided with the first baseman’s knee.
McNeill is hitting .306 with seven homers and 46 RBIs. He had a 13-game hitting streak that ended Friday.
Escobar was pulled for pinch-hitter Luis Guillorme in the second. In the top half, Escobar had two balls carom off his glove at third for infield hits.
Bernard takes long road to majors
Longtime minor leaguer Wynton Bernard singled, stole a base, and scored in his major league debut, helping the host Rockies beat the Diamondbacks. 5-3. The 31-year-old Bernard toiled in the minors for more than 10 years before having his contract selected by Colorado on Friday.
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Astros lose Brantley for year
Astros outfielder Michael Brantley will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his right shoulder this week.
The 35-year-old Brantley hasn’t played in a big league game since June 26. He hit .288 with five homers and 26 RBIs in 64 games in the final season of a $32 million, two-year contract.
“There were a lot of different avenues that were taken to try to get Michael back on the field in time for the end of the season,” Astros general manager James Click said Friday, “and ultimately, after consultation with our trainers and doctors, we ultimately came to the conclusion that this was the right path for him long-term for his health.”
Brantley had surgery Wednesday.
The loss of the sweet-swinging Brantley is a big blow for AL West-leading Houston. The five-time All-Star is a .298 hitter with 127 homers and 713 RBIs in 1,430 regular-season games.
Brantley also has enjoyed postseason success, batting .319 with nine RBIs during the Astros’ run to the World Series last year.
“He tried hard to get back,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “He got a number of opinions, he got a couple of procedural things — it just didn’t work. Michael’s a big part of this club, not only on the field, but in the clubhouse and dugout and on the planes. He’s not called ‘Uncle Mike’ for nothing.”
Giles runs out of time with Mariners
Righthander Ken Giles was designated for assignment Friday by the Mariners, who had signed the reliever last year when he was recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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The Mariners knew Giles wouldn’t pitch in 2021 when they signed him to a $7 million, two-year contract. But he appeared in only five games this season, and had been on the injured list since July 9 because of right shoulder tightness.
With his rehab time almost up, and their bullpen in good shape, the Mariners really had no room on their active roster for the 31-year-old Giles, who had been among the AL’s top relievers before getting hurt.
“It’s a serious injury he was trying to come back from. It was a little bit of a gamble on our side that we could get him back, and you never know how bullpens are going to work out,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said.
Giles made his Mariners debut on June 21, and he had six strikeouts and four walks while throwing 4⅓ scoreless innings in five appearances. He began this season on the injured list with a right middle finger sprain that he suffered in spring training.
Giles’s deal with the Mariners included a $500,000 signing bonus and salaries of $1 million last year and $5 million this season. Seattle had a $9.5 million option for 2023 with a $500,000 buyout.
He had Tommy John surgery in September 2020, after pitching in only four games that season for Toronto. He had 23 saves and a 1.87 ERA in 53 games for the Blue Jays in 2019, when he had 83 strikeouts and only 17 walks over 53 innings.
While pitching for Houston in 2017, when the Astros were World Series champions, Giles had 34 saves and a 2.70 ERA in 63 appearances.