BOSTON – Two hours before last Game 7, Indians pitcher Paul Byrd did his best to defuse a published report that linked him to human growth hormone.
Byrd said he used HGH in the treatment of a pituitary disorder, but said his usage was prescribed.
“I have not taken any hormone apart from a doctor’s care and supervision,” Byrd said.
The pitcher would not say if he’s still using HGH, a substance banned by Major League Baseball in 2005.
The report, in the San Francisco Chronicle, stated Byrd bought $25,000 worth of HGH and syringes from 2002-05.
“I have a pituitary tumor,” Byrd said.
According to the Chronicle report, two of the prescriptions Byrd used to obtain the HGH were written by a Florida dentist, whose license was suspended in 2003 for fraud and incompetence. Byrd would not address specifics.
“I’m really disappointed with the timing of this right now,” said Byrd, who was available but did not pitch in last night’s 11-2 loss, which eliminated the Tribe.
MLB banned HGH in January 2005, but does not conduct testing. An MLB spokesman said the treatment of a medical condition does not exempt a player from the HGH ban.
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The only pitcher Red Sox manager Terry Francona didn’t consider available last night was Tim Wakefield, who started Game 4.
Wakefield missed the AL Division Series because of soreness in his upper back.
The Red Sox got five innings from winner Daisuke Matsuzaka and two innings each from Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon.
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For the second straight night, the Red Sox had a hero from the 2004 championship team – Kevin Millar – throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Bill Mueller did the honors on Saturday.
Millar has spent the last two seasons playing for the Orioles.
“This is another one of those things where he can pull it off,” Francona said. “It’s Millar. It’s hilarious.”