Santana suspended for half the season

Minnesota Twins pitcher Er vin S antana was suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball after testing positive for the performance-enhancing substance stanozolol.

In a statement released through the players’ union, Santana said he was surprised by the news but does not plan to appeal.

Santana, a former Angel, signed a four-year, $55-million contract with the Twins after going 14-10 last season with Atlanta. The 32-yearold will lose $5,901,639 of his $13.5million salary this season.

This was the third penalty for a positive stanozolol test in the last eight days, following Seattle pitcher David Rollins and Atlanta pitcher Arodys Vizcaino .

“It’s disappointing. It’s difficult,” Twins General Manager Terry Ryan said. “We had a fairly decent spring. Now we’ve got to regroup here and hopefully it won’t affect us as we move forward.”

Miami Marlins pitcher Jarred Cosart was fined an unspecified amount by Major League Baseball for placing illegal bets, but the sport said it found no evidence he bet on baseball. MLB said Cosart was fined for violating a rule that “prohibits players from placing bets with illegal bookmakers or agents for illegal bookmakers. This rule is strictly enforced and applies to gambling with illegal bookmakers on any sport or event.” . . . The San Francisco Giants have extended the contracts of Manager Bruce Bochy and baseball operations leader Brian Sabean

through the 2019 season.

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic outserved 6-foot-10 American John Isner and won their semifinal at the Miami Open, 7-6 (3), 6-2. Djokovic, who had 10 aces to Isner’s nine, closed to within one win of his fifth Key Biscayne title. His opponent in Sunday’s final will be twotime champion Andy Murray , who defeated Tomas Berdych , 6-4, 6-4, despite losing his first service game in each set.

Portland Trail Blazers forward Dorell Wright is expected to miss four to six weeks because of a fractured bone in his left hand. Wright had taken on an increased role with the team after starting guard Wesley Matthews ruptured his Achilles’ tendon last month.

Defending national champion Ohio State will pay its three nonconference home football opponents — Hawaii, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan — a total of $3.1 million to come to Ohio Stadium this fall.