Devil Rays pitcher suspended 50 games

NEW YORK -- Tampa Bay relief pitcher Juan Salas was suspended for 50 games Monday after becoming the first player this year to flunk a drug test under Major League Baseball's testing program.

Salas tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance, the commissioner's office said. His suspension will start today.

There were just three suspensions last year under the major league program: New York Mets pitcher Yusaku Iriki, former Arizona pitcher Jason Grimsley and Mets reliever Guillermo Mota, who is serving his 50-game penalty at the start of this season.

Salas, a 28-year-old right-hander, is 1-1 with a 3.95 ERA in 15 appearances this season. He will lose about one-third of his $382,000 salary.

-- AP