BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJORS : Belle Suspension Reduced by AL

Cleveland slugger Albert Belle made a simple declarative statement regarding his corked bat controversy.

“I have never used or knowingly attempted to use a corked bat in a game,” he said.

With that, Belle accepted a six-day, seven-game suspension from American League President Bobby Brown, who reduced the 10-day suspension he had originally imposed. As part of the settlement, the Major League Baseball Players Assn. withdrew the appeal of the punishment.

Belle’s suspension begins Monday and will include a day-night doubleheader in Boston on Aug. 6. It marks the fourth consecutive season Belle has been suspended.

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Colorado Rockies first baseman Andres Galarraga underwent surgery on his broken right hand, and team officials said he will be out at least eight weeks. . . . With two weeks left before the union’s Aug. 12 strike deadline, players and owners agreed to resume negotiations Tuesday.