A-Rod given chance to avoid life ban

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez could avoid a potential lifetime ban from Major League Baseball if he accepts a suspension that would prohibit him from playing until 2015, one official with knowledge of the probe told USA Today.

It remains to be seen whether Rodriguez and his attorneys will soften their stance of no negotiations and accept a ban that would result in a 217-game penalty — if implemented Friday — and a loss of $34.5 million in salary. Rodriguez still would be due $61 million from 2015 to 2017.

‘‘I would imagine that [MLB has] told the union, ‘This is what we have on him,’ ’’ New York labor attorney Joseph Farelli said. ‘‘ ‘If you want to cut a deal, this is what you’ve got. If not, we’ll go for the whole ball of wax, the lifetime ban.’ ’’

Cardinals humble Pirates

Joe Kelly (2-3) and three relievers combined on a fivehitter, and the St. Louis Cardinals banged out 17 hits on their way to a 13-0 rout of the host Pittsburgh Pirates that enabled them to avoid a fivegame series sweep.

Seven players had two or more hits for the Cardinals, who scored eight runs in the seventh inning to turn the game into a romp.

Best of the rest

Daniel Nava singled home the winning run to cap a sixrun rally in the ninth inning that lifted the Boston Red Sox past the visiting Seattle Mariners 8-7.

Billy Butler had two hits and two RBI as the Kansas City Royals topped the host Minnesota Twins 7-2 to extend their winning streak to nine games.