MLB: Mariners' Santiago first player banned for foreign substance amid crackdown

Seattle Mariners pitcher Hector Santiago has been banned for 10 games and fined by MLB for having a foreign substance on his glove during Sunday's clash with the Chicago White Sox.

Santiago is the first player to be suspended amid MLB's crackdown on foreign substances, though the 2015 All-Star is appealing the decision.

The 33-year-old became the first player to be ejected as part of MLB's growing stance after he was tossed in the fifth inning of the Mariners' 3-2 win over the White Sox.

Mariners manager Servais "surprised" by punishment

"It was rosin and rosin is behind the pitcher's mound, so it's not foreign. It's not a foreign substance," Mariners manager Scott Servais told reporters on Tuesday.

"So I am surprised, to some degree. But I understand what Major League Baseball is trying to do, they're trying to create a level playing field and understand why they decided to do this in the middle of the season."

Since 21 June, MLB has enhanced its enforcement of the rules that prohibit applying foreign substances to baseballs, with pitchers subjected to random checks and could face ejections, fines and suspensions of 10 games.

Santiago: "All I used was rosin"

Santiago had his glove inspected and confiscated in the opening game of the doubleheader, though the veteran insisted he only used rosin.

"[Umpire Phil Cuzzi] said he felt some sticky stuff on the inside of the glove," Santiago said after the game. "All I used was rosin. I used it on both sides, trying to keep that sweat from dripping down to the hands."

In his first season with the Mariners, Santiago has a 2.65 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 17 innings over nine relief appearances.