Orioles Release Ponson

Sidney Ponson was released Thursday by the Baltimore Orioles, who contended that the pitcher’s conduct and problems with alcohol the last nine months gave them grounds to terminate his contract.

Ponson, on the 15-day disabled list because of thumb and calf injuries, has one season left on a three-year deal that would pay him $10 million in 2006.

“The Orioles did what we felt was justified and right, and indeed what we were compelled to do,” said H. Russell Smouse, the team’s general counsel. “There was really no alternative after a deliberate consideration of all the facts.”

Ponson’s agent, Barry Praver, did not return a call. Praver and Ponson have not talked to the media since the pitcher’s arrest last week.

“We will clearly grieve it,” said Michael Weiner, the general counsel of the players’ association.

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Pirate hitting coach Gerald Perry was suspended eight games, and St. Louis Cardinal pitching coach Dave Duncan was suspended four games for a scuffle during batting practice at Pittsburgh last month. Pittsburgh Manager Lloyd McClendon received a one-game suspension for escalating the shoving match.

The incident occurred before the Cardinals’ 8-3 victory over the Pirates on Aug. 24.

Perry and Duncan had to be restrained by players.

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Kansas City Royal right-hander Runelvys Hernandez had the appeal of his 10-game suspension over a beanball incident on July 17 at Detroit denied.... Cleveland Indian reliever David Riske had his four-game suspension cut to three games after he appealed the penalty for hitting Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki with a pitch on July 29.