The president of the World Anti-Doping Agency yesterday urged Major League Baseball to adopt its code, which includes a two-year suspension for an athlete's first positive test.
MLB and the players' association have toughened their drug rules three times since their initial agreement in August 2002, and Rob Manfred, MLB executive vice president for labor relations, quickly dismissed criticism by WADA president John Fahey, calling him "sadly misinformed."
The current policy calls for 50-game suspensions for first offenses, 100-game penalties for second offenses, and lifetime bans for third violations.
WADA specifies a lifetime ban for a second offense.
It's still a win
Colorado pitcher Alan Embree earned a victory over Washington on Tuesday without throwing a pitch as his team claimed a 5-4 win by rallying for the decisive run in the eighth inning without a hit.
"We'll take that one," said Clint Barmes, whose sacrifice fly sent Carlos Gonzales home with what turned out to be the game-winner.
Embree (2-2), who entered with two outs in the eighth, got the third out when he picked off Austin Kearns.
According to Stats LLC, it was the first time a pitcher had won without throwing a pitch since Baltimore's B.J Ryan had a pickoff against Detroit on May 1, 2003.
"It was a very interesting night for me, and kind of humorous in a way because I've played for a long time and never seen anything like that," said the 39-year-old Embree.
The Rockies loaded the bases for Barmes in the eighth with two walks and a Nationals error.
Root, root, rooting for the Cubbies
Chicago righthander Carlos Zambrano, the losing pitcher Tuesday against Atlanta, was in the press box more than three hours before yesterday's game singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" to an empty Wrigley Field.
Noteworthy
Lefthander Manny Parra returns to the Milwaukee Brewers' starting rotation today after being demoted to work on his control. . . . Lefthander Matt Chico, coming back from Tommy John surgery, was reinstated from the disabled list by the Nationals and sent to double-A Harrisburg. . . . The Dodgers recalled righthander Cory Wade to replace injured reliever Ronald Belisario. . . . Hanley Ramirez, Florida's all-star shortstop, missed his fourth consecutive game yesterday with a right hip flexor. . . . Arizona recalled lefthanded reliever Doug Slaten from triple-A Reno.
Contact staff writer Kevin Tatum at 215-854-2583 or ktatum@phillynews.com.
This article contains information from the Associated Press.
