NEW YORK — Melky Cabrera ended the debate over whether a suspended drug cheat should be able to win a batting title. The San Francisco outfielder asked Major League Baseball officials to disqualify him and on Friday they agreed. NEW
NEW YORK — Melky Cabrera ended the debate over whether a suspended drug cheat should be able to win a batting title. The San Francisco outfielder asked Major League Baseball officials to disqualify him and on Friday they agreed.
With less than two weeks left in the regular season and Cabrera on track to win the National League batting championship, MLB and the players’ association reached a deal on a one-season-only change in the rule governing the individual batting, slugging and on-base percentage champions.
Serving a 50-game suspension, Cabrera entered Friday with a league-leading .346 average, seven points ahead of Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen. Cabrera, the All-Star game MVP, was suspended Aug. 15 for a positive test for testosterone and is missing the final 45 games of the regular season.
Rays pitchers break AL
record for strikeouts
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay’s pitching staff broke the American League single-season record for strikeouts when James Shields fanned Toronto’s J.P. Arencibia leading off the second inning on Friday night.
Rays pitchers began the night with 1,264 strikeouts, two shy of the 2001 New York Yankees. Shields struck out Brett Lawrie and Edwin Encarnacion in the first to tie the mark, then got Arencibia swinging on a 2-2 pitch to begin the second.
The major league record is 1,404, set by the Chicago Cubs in 2003.
Orioles activate DH Thome,
LHP Patton from DL
BOSTON — The Baltimore Orioles have activated designated hitter Jim Thome and left-hander Troy Patton from the 15-day disabled list.
Brewers acquire catcher
Torrealba from Blue Jays
WASHINGTON — The Milwaukee Brewers acquired veteran catcher Yorvit Torrealba from Toronto for cash considerations.
The team announced the deal Friday.
In 59 games with the Blue Jays and Rangers this season, the 34-year old Torrealba is batting .233 with four homers and 14 RBIs.
Milwaukee, winners of six straight, are 1 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the final National League wild card berth. Milwaukee opened a four-game series against the Washington Nationals with a win on Friday.
