Suspensions, Injuries, And Scores – MLB Roundup For Aug. 6th

UNDATED (AP) — It was a busy day even by Alex Rodriguez's standards.

The New York Yankees third baseman was activated from the disabled list, met the media before Monday's game against the White Sox in Chicago, made his season debut and produced a bloop single in his first at-bat. He also was suspended for the remainder of this season and all of 2014, although he'll be able to play until his appeal is heard.

Rodriguez and 12 other players have been given lengthy suspensions by Major League Baseball after an in-depth probe into the closed Biogenesis anti-aging clinic. All but Rodriguez have accepted their suspensions, but he opted to appeal his suspension and remain on the active roster.

A-Rod received the harshest suspension.

Commissioner Bud Selig says Rodriguez had used testosterone as well as human growth hormones. Selig also stated Rodriguez engaged in a course of conduct intended to obstruct and frustrate the Office of the Commissioner in its investigation.

Rodriguez held a news conference before taking the field for the Yankees' game against the White Sox in Chicago. He wouldn't deny using PEDs, saying during the news conference that "when the time is right, there will be an opportunity to do all of that. I don't think that time is right now."

Rodriguez is expected to file an appeal by Wednesday. It will be at least a week before the appeal is heard, and several more weeks before an arbitrator renders his decision. If the 211-game penalty is upheld, his lost pay could range from $30.6 million to $32.7 million, depending on when exactly the suspension is served.

Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz, Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta (JAH'-nee peh-RAHL'-tah) and Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera are among 13 players to receive 50-game suspensions on Monday for their connection with Biogenesis of America. All three were All-Stars this season, with Cruz leading Texas in homers and RBIs, and Peralta serving as Detroit's second-best hitter behind Miguel Cabrera.

Others agreeing to 50-game bans include Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli, Philadelphia pitcher Antonio Bastardo, Seattle catcher Jesus Montero and New York Mets infielder Jordany Valdespin.

MLB also cleared Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez and Orioles third baseman Danny Valencia, saying its inquiry found no violations by the players linked to Biogensis in media reports. Gonzalez says he has no lingering sense of animosity toward baseball .

UNDATED (AP) — Chicago White Sox fans declined to give Alex Rodriguez a warm and fuzzy ovation as he stepped to the plate for the first time this season. He was greeted to a chorus of boos that lasted through the first pitch he saw from pitcher Jose Quintana leading off the second inning.

Rodriguez also took the next pitch before hitting a bloop single just beyond the reach of left fielder Casper Wells. Rodriguez also went from first to third without any visible problem on a Vernon Wells double six pitches later, but the two were left stranded.

A-Rod struck out looking in his final at-bat to finish 1-for-4 in the Yankees' 8-1 loss to the White Sox.

Alex Rios was the hitting star as Chicago ended a 10-game losing streak, going 2-for-4 with four RBIs. Quintana allowed a run and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings while outpitching Andy Pettitte, who was rocked for seven runs and 11 hits in just 2 2/3 innings.

Checking out the rest of the major league schedule, the Los Angeles Dodgers stretched their team-record winning streak to 15 games as Zack Greinke (GREHN'-kee) allowed just two runs while pitching into the seventh inning of a 3-2 win at St. Louis. Greinke also hit an RBI single that put the Dodgers ahead 3-1 in the seventh. The outcome gives L.A. a six-game lead over Arizona in the National League West and puts the Cardinals two games behind first-place Pittsburgh in the NL Central.

Brett Oberholtzer combined with two relievers on a five-hitter as Houston downed Boston 2-0, cutting the Red Sox's lead in the American League East to a half-game over Tampa Bay. Oberholtzer held the Bosox to four hits in seven innings while lowering his ERA to 2.53.

Alex Avila belted a three-run homer while Detroit was scoring four times in the ninth inning to earn their ninth consecutive win, 4-2 at Cleveland. The Tigers batted around in the ninth and stretched their lead in the American League Central to four games over the Indians, who had won 11 straight at home.

Eric Hosmer belted a three-run homer and had five RBIs as Kansas City rolled to its 12th victory in 13 games, a 13-0 laugher against Minnesota. Mike Moustakas (moos-TAH'-kahs) added four hits and two RBIs to back Jeremy Guthrie's four-hit shutout. Guthrie and the Royals are within 3 ½ games of the Indians for the final AL wild-card berth.

Justin Upton belted a tiebreaking, solo homer in the eighth inning to give Atlanta a 3-2 victory in Washington and increase the Braves' lead in the National League East to 13 ½ games over the Nationals. Freddie Freeman added three hits and two RBIs in the Braves' 11th consecutive win.

Texas knocked off the Angels 5-2 as Alvis Andrus (AN'-droos) hit a two-run triple and Adrian Beltre (BEHL'-tray) added a solo homer. Martin Perez allowed just two runs in 6 1/3 innings to help the Rangers draw within two games of first-place Oakland in the AL West.

Mark DeRosa hit a tiebreaking, two-run single while Toronto was scoring three times in the eighth to beat Seattle 3-1. R.A. Dickey allowed just one run over 7 2/3 innings to improve to 9-11.

Jeff Francoeur (fran-KOORZ') singled home the tiebreaking run while San Francisco put together a three-run eighth to beat Milwaukee 4-2. Brandon Belt went 3-for-3 and scored twice for the Giants.

UNDATED (AP) — New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is back on the disabled list due to a strained right calf.

With Jeter going on the DL, the Yankees recalled infielder Dave Adams from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, designated infielder Brent Lillibridge for assignment and activated third baseman Alex Rodriguez from the disabled list. Jeter appeared to take an awkward step while making a play in Friday night's 7-2 loss.

In other major league news, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly says he thinks shortstop Hanley Ramirez will be out at least a few days with a right shoulder injury suffered in Sunday's win over the Cubs. Nick Punto started at shortstop in place of Ramirez, who was hitting .361 with 11 homers and 37 RBIs. The Dodgers did get rookie Yasiel Puig (YAH'-see-ul pweeg) back in the lineup against the Cardinals in St. Louis after missing a day with a right thumb injury.

The Texas Rangers have recalled outfielder Engel Beltre from Triple-A Round Rock and selected the contract of outfielder Joey Butler from the same team after All-Star slugger Nelson Cruz received a 50-game suspension in Major League Baseball's drug case. Cruz will miss the remainder of the regular season.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is honoring former baseball players in the Negro League, a haven for African-American players who for decades were prevented from competing with white players in professional baseball.

The White House says Obama invited about a dozen players to the White House to mark their contributions to American history, civil rights and athletics.

The Negro League thrived in the early part of the 20th century. Its decline started after Jackie Robinson in 1947 became the first African-American to play Major League Baseball in modern times, clearing the way for other black players to compete in the major leagues.