In brief: M’s to huddle on Felix decision

Baseball: Felix Hernandez wants to start the season finale for the Seattle Mariners. Team officials will meet today to decide if the A.L. Cy Young candidate will.

“When it’s his time, he wants to be out there and I understand that. To be honest, I love that. He wants to compete and face hitters,” interim manager Daren Brown said Wednesday. “That’s what we all love about him and what makes him the pitcher he is. But at the same time, we’re going to do what’s best for Felix and what’s best for the organization.”

Hernandez (13-12) allowed one run over eight innings in a 3-1 victory over Texas on Tuesday night for his 30th quality start of the season. The right-hander has an A.L.-best 2.27 ERA, and leads the league with 249 2/3 innings pitched – up from 238 2/3 innings last season and 200 2/3 innings in 2008.

After his 34th start of the season, Hernandez made it clear that he wants to pitch the finale Sunday at home against the Oakland Athletics.

Mariners lose, B4

Contador tested positive at Tour

Cycling: Three-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador tested positive for a banned stimulant during this year’s race and has been suspended by cycling’s governing body.

A lab in Germany found clenbuterol in Contador’s urine sample on July 21 at the Tour de France, according to a statement from the UCI. But the amount was “400 time(s) less than what the antidoping laboratories accredited by WADA must be able to detect,” the cycling organization said.

Both Contador’s A and B samples tested positive and the cyclist has been “formally and provisionally suspended,” the UCI said.

Jacinto Vidarte, Contador’s publicist, released a statement saying the cyclist insists food contamination is the only possible explanation.

“The experts consulted so far have agreed also that this is a food contamination case, especially considering the number of tests passed by Alberto Contador during the Tour de France,” Vidarte said in the release.

Associated Press