Report: Phillies’ Romero shoves fan

The Philadelphia Phillies confirmed Saturday that one of their players was involved in a confrontation with a fan following Thursday’s game at Tampa Bay.

The Phillies did not identify the player in their statement. The Rays also confirmed the incident but did not release details.

The St. Petersburg Times reported on its website Saturday that Phillies reliever J.C. Romero grabbed and shoved Robert Eaton, 25, of New Port Richey, Fla., after the fan made two comments about steroids.

Romero was suspended for the first 50 games of the season after testing positive for androstenedione, a substance that Mark McGwire used in the 1990s that was later banned by baseball. Romero, who earned two wins in Philadelphia’s World Series victory over Tampa Bay last year, has sued the manufacturer of an over-the-counter supplement that he said led to his positive test.

Eaton told the newspaper he called out to Romero after a couple of Phillies brushed off his requests for autographs, asking the left-hander to get him some steroids. After Romero told him to shut up and that he didn’t know what he was talking about, Eaton said he replied that Romero was the one who’d been suspended recently.

“He reared back and kinda grazed my chin and grabbed me by the neck and threw me back,” Eaton told the newspaper. “I was in shock.”

Romero declined to comment to when approached by the Associated Press after Philadelphia’s 10-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.

The Cleveland Indians traded infielder Mark DeRosa to the St. Louis Cardinals for right-handed relief pitcher Chris Perez and a player to be named.

Seattle Mariners third baseman Adrian Beltre will have shoulder surgery and be out at least a month.

A baseball autographed by Babe Ruth has fetched $3,900 at auction in Reno. The ball, signed in 1928, went to a former University of Nevada Reno baseball player who asked not to be identified.

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COLLEGES

Weis confirms Fauria’s departure

As expected, Notre Dame football Coach Charlie Weis said Joseph Fauria, a reserve tight end from Encino Crespi High, will not return to the Fighting Irish.

Earlier in the week, Weis said Fauria would miss the 2009 season for personal reasons. But on Saturday, the Notre Dame coach said the 6-foot-7, 245-pound sophomore would not return at all.

Former Duke basketball player Elliot Williams says he’ll transfer to Memphis.

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SOCCER

Ronaldo transfer becomes official

Real Madrid has completed the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United.

The 24-year-old Portugal winger will be a Madrid player on Wednesday after agreeing to a six-season deal. The move is worth a record $131 million.

Madrid said on its website that Ronaldo will be presented at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on July 6.

Terms were not disclosed, but reports put the figure as high as $18 million a season, with the player expected to split image rights with Madrid.

Benfica signed striker Javier Saviola from Real Madrid. The Argentine striker, 27, has joined the Portuguese club for three seasons in a deal worth $7 million, the team said on its website.

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ETC.

Two swimming records bested

Federica Pellegrini of Italy set a world record in the 400-meter freestyle at the Mediterranean Games in Pescara, Italy.

Pellegrini, the Olympic champion and world record-holder in the 200-meter freestyle, finished in 4 minutes 0.41 seconds to lower the mark of Jo Jackson of Britain by 0.25 of a second.

Germany’s Britta Steffen broke her world record in the 100-meter freestyle, finishing in 52.56 seconds at Berlin. This record came two days after she broke the one set by Australia’s Lisbeth Trickett.

British sprinter Dwain Chambers won the 100 meters at the Mondo Keien meet at Uden, Netherlands. Chambers won in 10.22 seconds. Kim Collins was second in 10.42 seconds. Chambers also won the 200 with a season-best time of 20.50.

Undefeated Arthur Abraham successfully defended his International Boxing Federation middleweight title with a technical knockout of fellow German Mahir Oral in the 10th round at Berlin.