Mariners suspend backup catcher for controversial tweets

Reserve catcher Steve Clevenger was suspended for the rest of the season without pay Friday by the Seattle Mariners in the wake of his tweets regarding a recent police shooting in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the Black Lives Matter movement.

General manager Jerry Dipoto said Clevenger was informed of the suspension Friday. Clevenger, 30, will NOTES lose 10 days’ pay from his $516,500 salary in the major leagues, which comes to $28,224.

The Major League Baseball Players Association, which could challenge the discipline, had no comment.

Clevenger’s Twitter account was changed to private Thursday.

Screen shots of the tweets showed Clevenger made disparaging com- ments about protesters and President Barack Obama, saying “everyone involved should be locked behind bars like animals!”

■ METS — All-Star right-hander Noah Syndergaard was scratched from his scheduled start Saturday because of strep throat.

Left-handed reliever Sean Gilmartin will make his first start of the season, taking Syndergaard’s place.

■ NATIONALS — All-Star second baseman Daniel Murphy, who hasn’t started since last Saturday, was diagnosed with a strained left glute following an MRI examination.

Manager Dusty Baker said the ailment doesn’t affect Murphy when he hits, but it’s an issue when he runs.

The club said there’s no timetable for Murphy’s return, although he has been ruled out through at least the weekend.