Another PED ban for Byrd
Marlon Byrd’s second strike with performance-enhancing drugs cost him a full season — and his career.
The Cleveland Indians veteran outfielder was suspended 162 games without pay by Major League Baseball yesterday after testing positive for Ipamorelin, a growth hormone releasing peptide.
It’s Byrd’s second violation of the drug program. Shortly after he was released in 2012 by the Red Sox, Byrd served a 50-game suspension for testing positive for Tamoxifen, a medication used by body builders but also to treat breast cancer.
“It feels like we got kicked in the stomach a little bit,” Indians manager Terry Francona said.
Byrd is the second Cleveland outfielder to be suspended for PED use this season. Abraham Almonte was slapped with an 80-game suspension during spring training.
On the field in Cleveland last night, Yan Gomes’ single brought in the winning run in the 11th inning as the Indians walked off with a 5-4 win in American League play against the Texas Rangers. Juan Uribe’s two-out single for Cleveland in the eighth inning broke a 3-all tie, but Texas rallied in the ninth off closer Cody Allen.
Blue Jays 7, Yankees 0 — Aaron Sanchez (5-1) and three relievers pitched in for the shutout, and Edwin Encarnacion had two hits and two RBI, as host Toronto completed a series sweep of New York.
Royals 6, Rays 3 — Danny Duffy (1-0) registered his first win since joining the rotation and Wade Davis earned his 16th save as Kansas City completed a 6-0 homestand by beating Tampa Bay.
Athletics 5, Twins 1 — Jake Smolinski homered, Danny Valencia had three hits and Sean Manaea (2-3) went six innings to help Oakland win its fifth straight game, against visiting Minnesota.
Tigers 3, Angels 0 — In Anaheim, Calif., Michael Fulmer (5-1) and Francisco Rodriguez (save No. 15) combined on a shutout as Detroit got the best of Matt Shoemaker (3-6) and Los Angeles.
National League
Cubs 2, Dodgers 1 — Jon Lester (6-3) allowed just a leadoff homer to Kike Hernandez in a complete-game four-hitter and Kris Bryant hit a two-run shot in the third inning, leading host Chicago past Los Angeles.
Brewers 3, Cardinals 1 — Zach Davies (3-3) had nine strikeouts over eight shutout innings, and host Milwaukee beat St. Louis, whose Brandon Moss hit a pinch-hit homer in the ninth off Jeremy Jeffress.
Nationals 7, Phillies 2 — Max Scherzer (6-4) posted 11 strikeouts in eight innings, Wilson Ramos hit a threerun homer among his three hits and Washington topped host Philadelphia for a sweep.
Reds 7, Rockies 2 — In Denver, John Lamb (1-3) went seven innings, Billy Hamilton hit a two-run double and Jay Bruce had a solo homer as Cincinnati beat Colorado.
Braves 5, Giants 4 — After host Atlanta tied it in the ninth inning, Freddie Freeman homered leading off the 11th for the walkoff win against San Francisco.
Marlins 3, Pirates 2 — Adeiny Hechavarria hit a tiebreaking RBI double in the eighth to push Miami past visiting Pittsburgh.
Interleague
White Sox 2, Mets 1 — Matt Albers (2-4) doubled leading off the 13th inning for his first hit since 2007, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly, giving Chicago a win in New York.
Astros 5, Diamondbacks 4— George Springer homered with two outs in the 11th inning and host Houston walked off a winner against Arizona, which had tied the game with a three-run ninth.
Elsewhere in baseball — Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez (calf) went on the 15-day DL and James Paxton arrived from Triple A to start against the San Diego Padres.