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MLB suspends Jacobs for positive HGH test

Royals catcher Salvador Perez holds onto the ball for the out against Boston’s Carl Crawford in Thursday’s game. (Associated Press)
Royals catcher Salvador Perez holds onto the ball for the out against Boston’s Carl Crawford in Thursday’s game. (Associated Press)

Mike Jacobs became the first player suspended by Major League Baseball for a positive HGH test under the sport’s minor league drug testing procedures.

The 30-year-old minor league first baseman, who was in the big leagues from 2005-10, received a 50-game suspension Thursday for taking the banned performance-enhancing substance and was subsequently released by the Colorado Rockies.

Jacobs said he took human growth hormone to overcome knee and back ailments.

Jacobs is the first North American pro athlete punished for taking HGH.

Nats don’t worry about Strasburg

A day after Stephen Strasburg was hit hard in the minors, Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson insisted he wasn’t worried about the young ace.

Strasburg lasted less than two innings Wednesday in a Class A start, his third rehabilitation outing since Tommy John surgery last September.

“Not at all. I’ve seen it many times – Jim Palmer – anybody – going down and getting some work. I’ve seen him and other guys get rocked,” Johnson said.

Pitching for Hagerstown in the South Atlantic League, the overall No. 1 pick from the 2009 draft gave up five runs and four hits in 1 2/3 innings against Lexington.

Strasburg is expected to make three more starts before returning to the majors next month.

Clearing the bases

Boston placed third baseman Kevin Youkilis on the disabled list because of a back injury and called up catching prospect Ryan Lavarnway from Triple-A Pawtucket. … Philadelphia All-Star center fielder Shane Victorino’s suspension for his part in a benches-clearing brawl at San Francisco on Aug. 5 has been reduced and he will miss the next two games. Victorino appealed the original suspension of three games. … Cleveland released outfielder Austin Kearns. The 31-year-old hit .200 with two homers and seven RBIs in 52 games. … Kansas City signed outfielder Jeff Francoeur for another two years for $13.5 million. Francoeur is hitting .277 in his first year with the Royals, with 15 home runs, 66 RBIs and a career-high 19 stolen bases.