ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Nelson Cruz is back in the Texas Rangers lineup after completing his 50-game suspension.
The Texas Rangers reinstated their slugger from the restricted list Monday before the AL wild-card tiebreaker game against Tampa Bay. It was a day after the end of his penalty that followed Major League Baseball’s investigation of the Biogenesis anti-aging clinic, which was accused of distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs.
Cruz was in the starting lineup batting sixth and the designated hitter against Tampa Bay for his first major league game since Aug. 4.
Texas designated outfielder Joey Butler for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.
Cruz was among 14 players disciplined by MLB this year in the Biogenesis case. Only Alex Rodriguez appealed his suspension.
Texas won its last seven scheduled games of the regular season to force the tiebreaker game.
