Angel Guzman banned 50 games

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Los Angeles Dodgers minor league right-hander Angel Guzman was suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball on Friday for a second violation of the minor league drug prevention and treatment program for a drug of abuse, the commissioner's office announced.

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Guzman, 30, spent parts of four seasons in the majors with the Chicago Cubs, making 88 appearances from 2006-09, including 14 starts where he was 3-10 with a 4.82 ERA.

The term "drug of abuse'' usually refers to a narcotic, something different from a performance-enhancing substance such as steroids.

"I knew about it in spring training," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "It's a unique situation with that kid and it's a little deeper. There's more to this story. I really like him, he's got a great arm and is a hard worker and a great kid. He's not someone to write off."

Guzman, signed with the Dodgers as a minor league free agent last December and was invited to major league spring training, where he pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, over five Cactus League appearances. He was reassigned to minor league camp when available innings became scarce, and was never considered a serious candidate to make the Opening Day roster.

Guzman had been assigned to Triple-A Albuquerque to begin the season but has made no appearances for the Isotopes.

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Tony Jackson

ESPNLosAngeles.com

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• Joined ESPNLosAngeles.com in 2010
• Covered the Dodgers for the Los Angeles Daily News for more than five seasons
• Has covered Major League Baseball on a regular basis for 15 years in Denver, Cincinnati and Los Angeles.