Lo Duca: Gambling Not an Issue

New York Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca denied he has a gambling problem after an article Tuesday in the New York Daily News reported he had significant gambling debts.

Flanked by teammates Tom Glavine and David Wright, Lo Duca said he didn’t want his situation to be a distraction to the Mets and thanked the fans for their support.

“I don’t have a gambling problem,” said Lo Duca, who did not take questions from reporters. “I do bet on horses legally. I have an online account, bet legally. I have no gambling debts, no past debts that were paid. Nothing. All of those allegations are false.”

Lo Duca says he owns thoroughbreds and breeds them, and added, “It’s my love.”

A spokesman for the Mets declined to comment on the Daily News report.

Mets Manager Willie Randolph said he addressed the team and told his players to stay focused.

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Cincinnati General Manager Wayne Krivsky sought an explanation for why the Reds were unaware that reliever Gary Majewski had a sore shoulder when the team acquired him in a trade with Washington.

The Reds didn’t know that the right-hander had a cortisone injection in his shoulder before the All-Star break.

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Minnesota pitcher Francisco Liriano, who has been battling inflammation in his left forearm, appears headed to the disabled list.

Liriano is 12-3 with a league-leading 2.19 earned-run average.

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Atlanta pitcher Horacio Ramirez has a partially torn ligament in his left middle finger and will be put on the disabled list, perhaps the final setback in an injury-plagued season.

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Major League Baseball suspended New York Yankees minor league pitcher Daniel McCutchen for 50 games for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.