MARINERS' BECKHAM SUSPENDED 80 GAMES FOR PED VIOLATION

Seattle Mariners infielder Tim Beckham has been suspended 80 games as part of baseball's joint drug agreement after testing positive for stanozolol, a banned performance enhancer, Major League Baseball announced Tuesday.

Beckham's suspension is effective immediately and ends his season. In a statement released through the players' association, Beckham says he took a product from a "trusted source, who had advised it was safe to take. Regrettably, the product was tainted." Beckham says he appealed but an independent arbitrator upheld the suspension.

Beckham was hitting .237 with 15 home runs and 47 RBIs in 88 games this season, his first in Seattle. The No. 1 overall draft pick in 2008 was a starter at the beginning of the year but had moved into a utility role over the past couple of months, playing all four infield positions and in left field.

— Associated Press

It took two arenas, four weeks, four referees and one earthquake before the Washington Mystics finally could take down the Las Vegas Aces.

Elena Delle Donne and the Mystics made their short trip to Las Vegas pay off Monday night, completing the second half of a game suspended by an earthquake with a 99-70 win over the Aces.

The original game was suspended with Washington leading 51-36 after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit Southern California just before halftime, with the effects felt as far away as Las Vegas and Mexico. After talking it over, WNBA officials suspended the game out of an abundance of caution. NBA Summer League games in Las Vegas also were postponed that night.

"This was really hard to prepare for, it was definitely odd." said Mystics guard Natasha Cloud, who had nine points and nine assists. "I think you saw the opening minute we were both just missing shots, but you gotta deal with the cards that are dealt your way."

The Mystics played in Phoenix on Sunday and got blown out by the Mercury 103-82. Washington flew to Las Vegas on Sunday night and treated Monday night's game like any other game on their schedule. The Aces had their morning shootaround, and both teams got their normal warmup 90 minutes before the game.

Delle Donne scored 21 points for the Mystics (15-7), who maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second half. Kelsey Plum had 17 for the Aces (15-8).

— Associated Press

UConn crossed the last item off its recruiting shopping list for the upcoming season by securing a commitment from 6-foot-9 power forward Richie Springs.

Springs visited UConn Sunday and announced his decision on his Twitter account on Tuesday.

He elected to reclassify in order to be ready to play at UConn this fall.

He graduated from MacDuffie School in Granby, Mass., where he was a teammate of guard James Bouknight who also will begin his first season with the Huskies.

Other members of the incoming recruiting class include guard Jalen Gaffney and forward Akok Akok, who will be eligible to play after only practicing with the team last semester.

The addition of Springs adds depth to a thin frontcourt and fills the last available scholarship.

In other news, UConn will hold First Night for the men's and women's basketball teams on Friday, Oct. 18.

— Gavin Keefe