MLB: Suspended Ryan Braun apologises for using drugs

Milwaukee Brewers left fielder will miss final 65 games without pay for being tied to Florida clinic accused of distributing performance-enhancers.

Ryan Braun has been suspended for 65 games and will not receive pay during that period.

MILWAUKEE, United States // Jonathan Lucroy and his Milwaukee teammates support suspended star Ryan Braun.

Braun was the first player to be suspended for baseball's latest drug scandal. He spoke to his teammates, issued a statement and left Miller Park without answering questions.

"I am not perfect," he said in the statement. "I realise now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions."

Lucroy said Braun pulled him aside and apologised before speaking for about five minutes to the team.

"We all went up to him and said we support you anyway," said Lucroy after the Brewers lost 5-3 to the Padres in Major League Baseball on Monday night. "We understand it's a tough situation. He came out. He said his peace and got done. We forgive him. I don't think anybody here is going to hold a grudge."

Braun will miss the final 65 games without pay for being tied to a Florida clinic accused of distributing performance-enhancing drugs.

"We're certainly disappointed in the news that we received today," Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke said. "The suspension obviously affects us the rest of the year and what we do and where we go."

The loss of Braun leaves another hole in a line-up that has been without Corey Hart (knee) all season and Aramis Ramirez, who has played in only 54 games and is on the disabled list due to recurring knee pain.

"Ryan is an important part of this team but right now we have players in place that we'll put out there and try to win as many ball games as we can like we always do," Roenicke said.

The team will recall outfielder Khris Davis from Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday to take Braun's place on the roster, Roenicke said.

The watered-down line-up had only four hits, but showed no immediate effects from the announcement regarding their star player. Milwaukee scored twice in the first off Andrew Cashner but managed only one more run the rest of the game.

Milwaukee did not allow a run in their weekend series against Miami, but had its 36-inning scoreless pitching streak snapped in the second when Jesus Guzman hit his sixth homer to bring the Padres within 2-1. Guzman capped a four-run sixth inning off Tom Gorzelanny (1-4) with a two-out double that snapped a tie, scoring Chase Headley and Carlos Quentin to give the Padres a 5-3 lead. It was only their 17th win in 50 road games.

San Diego starter Andrew Cashner (6-5) pitched six solid innings and keyed the sixth-inning rally with a leadoff bunt single. The right-hander allowed three runs on three hits and three walks while striking out six in six innings.

Huston Street pitched the ninth for his 17th save in 18 chances.

Logan Schafer, starting in centre field for the injured NL All-Star Carlos Gomez, walked with one out. Jean Segura doubled to centre field, and Schafer - who was running on the pitch - slid and scored on a close play for a 1-0 lead.

Lucroy then doubled to score Segura and make it 2-0.

"I thought Cash settling in after a high pitch count first [inning] was the key to the game," San Diego manager Bud Black said. "He really settled down and limited the damage."

The Brewers extended the lead to 3-1 in the fifth when Norichika Aoki scored on a Segura groundout.

Gorzelanny was having little trouble with San Diego until Cashner and Everth Cabrera led off the sixth with a pair of bunt singles. Chris Denorfia then hit a groundout to advance the runners to second and third, and Chase Headley was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Carlos Quentin doubled to the base of the wall in right field to score Cashner and Cabrera, tying the score 3-3. Guzman then hit the first pitch from Gorzelanny down the left-field line for another double, scoring Headley and Quentin to snap the tie and give the Padres a 5-3 lead.

Gorzelanny pitched five 2-3 innings, giving up five runs on five hits and three walks while striking out six.

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