LEADING OFF PHILLIES MINOR-LEAGUE PITCHER GETS 80-GAME SUSPENSION

Phillies minor- league pitcher Alec Asher was suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball on Thursday after testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance. The 24- year-old right-hander, pictured, tested positive for Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, an anabolic steroid used to increase speed and strength. The Phillies acquired Asher among others in the deal that sent Cole Hamels to the Texas Rangers last July. Asher was 0-6 with a 9.31 ERA for Philadelphia in seven starts after the trade. Phillies reliever Daniel Stumpf also received an 80-game suspension this season for using the same substance.