Doctor Says Francona in Need of More Tests

Red Sox Manager Terry Francona did not have a heart attack and results of medical tests on him “are very good,” Boston’s team doctor said Thursday.

Francona was hospitalized in New York on Wednesday morning after feeling tightness in his chest and was transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital later in the day.

The team did not say when Francona might rejoin the Red Sox, who begin a three-game series today in Toronto and will receive their World Series rings before Monday’s home opener against the New York Yankees.

“The plan is to perform several series of tests on Terry,” Dr. Thomas Gill said in a statement released by the club. “The results of the initial series are very good.”

*

Tampa Bay outfielder Alex Sanchez won’t appeal his 10-day suspension for violating baseball’s steroids policy, saying he was tripped up by a change in laws that made a supplement he took illegal.

Sanchez, the first player penalized under the tougher rules put in place last month, made his decision four days after he was suspended by Commissioner Bud Selig.

*

Mark McGwire’s induction into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame was postponed at the beleaguered slugger’s request.

McGwire, who was widely criticized last month for his evasive responses to questions during Congressional hearings on steroid use in the major leagues, was scheduled to be inducted into the hall at a banquet in San Francisco on Wednesday.

*

John Rocker, who made disparaging remarks about New York in a Sports Illustrated article five years ago, signed a contract to play with an independent minor league team on Long Island.

The 30-year-old left-handed reliever signed for the season with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League, whose eight teams aren’t affiliated with Major League Baseball.

*

Curt Schilling gave up seven runs in six innings in a rehabilitation start for Boston’s triple-A Pawtucket farm team at Indianapolis.... Washington National first baseman Wil Cordero was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a knee injury, and infielder Carlos Baerga is expected to take his roster spot.... Pitcher Brooks Kieschnick, a former Texas Longhorn standout recently released by Milwaukee, agreed to a minor league contract with the Houston Astros.... Detroit Tiger outfielder Magglio Ordonez is expected to sit out at least one more game because of a viral infection.