Pirates lose outfielder Marte to 80-game suspension for PEDs
ST. LOUIS >> Pittsburgh Pirates AllStar outfielder Starling Marte has been suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
The league said Tuesday that Marte tested positive for the steroid Nandrolone. He will be eligible to return in mid-July.
Marte was an All-Star for the first time in his career in 2016 and moved from left field to center field in the offseason after winning his second Gold Glove. The 28-yearold from the Dominican Republic is hitting .241 with two home runs and seven RBIs this season.
Marte said in a statement that “neglect and lack of knowledge led to this mistake.”
“With much embarrassment and helplessness, I ask for forgiveness for unintentionally disrespecting so many people who have trusted in my work and have supported me so much,” he said. “I promise to learn the lesson that this ordeal has left me.”
Pirates president Frank Coonelly he was “disappointed that Starling put himself, his teammates and the organization in this position.”
“We will continue to fight for the division title with the men who are here,” Coonelly said, “and will look forward to getting Starling back after the All-Star break.”
Marte addressed the team during a closed-door meeting before its game Tuesday night at St. Louis.
“What was said in here was strictly between us, between brothers and teammates,” infielder Josh Harrison said. “It’s something he needs to deal with on his own, but if he ever needs to reach out, just know it’s not exile. People make mistakes.”
Barring postponements, Marte would be eligible to return for the July 18 home game against Milwaukee and would lose 91 days’ pay from his $5 million salary, which comes to $2,486,339.
Tuesday’s games
WHITE SOX 4, YANKEES 1 >> Miguel Gonzalez pitched shutout ball into the ninth inning to win a road start for the first time in two years, Leury Garcia and Avisail Garcia homered off Luis Severino, and Chicago beat the Yankees to stop New York’s eight-game winning streak. REDS 9, ORIOLES 3 >> Adam Duvall hit his first career grand slam, Joey Votto had a two-run shot and Bronson Arroyo got his first win in almost three years, helping Cincinnati beat Baltimore. The 40-year-old Arroyo (1-2) allowed three runs in five innings, including Adam Jones’ tworun homer. The victory was Arroyo’s first since June 15, 2014. RAYS 5, TIGERS 1 >> Matt Andriese outpitched Michael Fulmer, Tim Beckham hit a two-run homer, and Tampa Bay beat Detroit. CARDINALS 2, PIRATES 1 >> Dexter Fowler tripled and scored, Mike Leake pitched into the seventh inning and St. Louis beat Pittsburgh. NATIONALS 3, BRAVES 1>> Max Scherzer pitched two-hit ball over seven scoreless innings and Washington handed Atlanta its first loss at SunTrust Park.
Also: Blue Jays place Happ on DL
TORONTO >> The Blue Jays placed left-hander J.A. Happ on the 10day disabled list and recalled infielder Ty Kelly from Triple-A Buffalo. Happ, who won 20 games for the first time last year, left Sunday’s start against Baltimore in the fifth inning with a sore elbow. On Monday, he had an MRI, which revealed no structural damage. SAN FRANCISCO >> San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy. 62, has undergone a minor heart procedure and will miss the team’s two-game series in Kansas City this week.
The Giants say Bochy had been complaining of discomfort and underwent a procedure called an ablation in San Diego on Monday to fix his heart rhythm problems. ORLANDO, FLA. >> As Major League Baseball celebrates the 70th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier, a diversity report finds the sport could do a better job of identifying and hiring minority and female candidates for top decision-making jobs.
The annual report card released Tuesday by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida shows a drop-off from a year ago in MLB’s racial and gender hiring practices. Major League Baseball received a B in racial hiring, a C for gender hiring and an overall C+ grade this year.