Notes: DEA investigating Ramirez

DEA investigates Ramirez

NEW YORK - Major League Baseball is cooperating with a federal investigation into where Manny Ramirez got the performance-enhancing drug that resulted in his 50-game suspension.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is checking whether a doctor in Miami and his son were the source of the drug, ESPN reported yesterday.

ESPN said investigators suspect the prescription for HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, was written by Pedro Publio Bosch, a doctor in Florida since 1976. His son, Anthony Bosch, supposedly worked as a go-between for the doctor and Ramirez, ESPN said.

HCG was added to baseball's banned substances list last year. It is popular among users of performance-enhancing drugs because it can lessen the side effects of ending a cycle of steroids.

Soto positive for marijuana

DETROIT - Chicago catcher Geovany Soto will not be suspended by Major League Baseball or his team after testing positive for marijuana at this year's World Baseball Classic.

Soto, last season's NL rookie of the year, drew a two-year ban from international competition by the International Baseball Federation.

"I am embarrassed by my lapse in judgment," he said in a statement. "While I fully acknowledge my inappropriate behavior, I want to assure my fans and my family that this was an isolated incident."

"I fully understand the ramifications of my actions," Soto said. "I have and will accept any and all consequences."

DIAMONDBACKS: Outfielder Eric Byrnes will require surgery after breaking his left hand and could miss four to eight weeks. Byrnes (.216, 5 HR, 26 RBI) fractured the fifth metacarpal in his left hand when he was hit by a pitch from Texas' Scott Feldman in the second inning last night.

PHILLIES: Struggling shortstop Jimmy Rollins will be out of the starting lineup at least two games. Rollins, hitless in his last 19 at-bats, is batting .211 with six homers and 27 RBI in 68 games. Manuel said he wants Rollins to "sit and watch and relax." . . . Closer Brad Lidge, who had been out since June 7 with a sprained right knee, WAS reinstated from the 15-day disabled list. Left-handed reliever Sergio Escalona was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

BRAVES: Right-hander Jeff Bennett has been placed on the 15-day disabled list a day after breaking his left hand when he punched a door in frustration. The Braves called up Boone Logan from Triple-A Gwinnett to take Bennett's place on the roster.

PIRATES: Ian Snell, Pittsburgh's No. 2 starter, has been demoted to Triple-A Indianapolis after winning only once in his last 12 starts. The former 14-game winner will work on throwing more first-pitch strikes and improving his breaking ball. Snell is 2-8 with a 5.36 ERA in 15 starts, allowing 87 hits in 802/3 innings.

MARINERS: Starting shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt (.250, 2 HR, 22 RBI) went on the 15-day disabled list after he pulled his hamstring running out a ground ball the previous night.

- From Wire Reports