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Ortiz: ‘I’m surprised to learn I tested positive’

Union told slugger he tested positive in 2003; Manny says to call union

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Said Atlanta star Chipper Jones: “It’s like somebody wants to keep this on the tips of everybody’s tongues. And if that’s the case, I’d rather we just got it over with.”

Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon played with Ortiz and Ramirez on those championship Red Sox teams. Will fans think those Boston clubs were full of steroid users?

“That probably is what being said, and that’s what makes guys like me upset,” Damon said.

Ramirez was a long-established star in 2003. Ortiz, in contrast, had been a part-time player before that season.

Ortiz had never hit more than 20 homers in a season as a part-time player in Minnesota early in his career. He came to Boston as a platoon player in 2003 and had four homers by July 1, then hit 27 the rest of the year.

Ortiz followed up with seasons of 41, 47 and 54 home runs as he stamped himself as one of the best sluggers in the game.

Last year, he dipped to 23 home runs, and his slump continued this season. He’s hitting only .228 with 14 homers.

Ramirez returned from his suspension this month and quickly re-established his presence in the middle of the lineup for the NL West-leading Dodgers.

Boos have rained down on Ramirez throughout this week’s series in St. Louis whenever he comes to the plate or touches the ball.

“He’s a great player, and I don’t think the suspension has anything to do with it,” Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. “Personally, if he never got suspended they’d still be booing the hell out of him.”

© 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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