Tampa Bay outfielder Alex Sanchez won't appeal his 10-day suspension for violating major league baseball's doping policy, saying he was tripped up by a change in laws that made a supplement he took illegal.
Sanchez was the first player penalized under the tougher rules put in place last month.
"I used an over-the-counter supplement that I purchased before the laws banning certain substances changed on Jan. 15," Sanchez said in a statement. "If I am guilty, I am guilty of not taking the initiative to learn more about the contents of what I was taking. Once my agent informed me that I had tested positive, I then started finding out what was in my supplements. Then, and only then, did I find out about the particular ingredients of this supplement."
Sanchez's suspension began on Monday, when Tampa Bay played Toronto in its season opener. Because suspensions for violating MLB's rules on performance-enhancing drugs are without pay, Sanchez will lose US$32,787 of his US$600,000 salary.
"He did not knowingly take any banned substance," said Michael Weiner, general counsel of the Major League Baseball Players Association. "We respect Alex's decision to forgo an appeal, and he has our full support."
Several substances that previously were available over the counter were made prescription drugs as of Jan. 15 under government legislation, and were added to MLB's banned list. Under MLB's drug rules, the sport doesn't announce the specific substance a player tested positive for.
Thirty-eight players were suspended on Monday for violating MLB's minor league drug policy. In addition, the Pittsburgh Pirates announced on Wednesday that three of their minor leaguers were suspended under the drug rules.
Jose Vidro led off the 10th inning with a home run Thursday that led the Washington Nationals to their second straight win, 5-4 over the Philadelphia Phillies.
"To come back and win, that's a pretty good feeling because it shows we matured a lot," Vidro said.
Vidro had three RBIs and Brad Wilkerson went 4-for-5, a day after hitting for his second career cycle.
Washington, which moved during the offseason after 36 years as the Montreal Expos, completed its first series by winning two of three.
"That's what we want to do, win series," Nationals manager Frank Robinson said. "It would've been disheartening if we lost."
Phillies reliever Tim Worrell allowed Nick Johnson's tying RBI groundout off the first-base bag in the eighth, and Vidro homered off Rheal Cormier (0-1). Chad Cordero (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings.
Reds 6, Mets 1
In Cincinnati, Aaron Harang (1-0) allowed only one single in 6 1-3 innings, and D'Angelo Jimenez had a pinch two-run double off Kazuhisa Ishii (0-1) as Cincinnati downed New York.
With a combined four-hitter, the Reds improved to 3-0 for the first time since 1990, when they won their first nine and swept Oakland in the World Series.
New manager Willie Randolph's Mets hadn't lost their first three games since 1964.
Braves 4, Marlins 2
In Miami, Tim Hudson lasted just five innings in his Atlanta debut, but that was long enough to earn the victory against Florida.
A throwing error by Gold Glove second baseman Luis Castillo led to two Atlanta runs. Braves backup catcher Eddie Perez hit an RBI double off A.J. Burnett (0-1).
Hudson, a former 20-game winner acquired in a trade after six years with Oakland, allowed six hits and four walks but just one run. He stranded seven runners, induced two double plays and helped himself with a run-scoring single for his second career RBI.
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