Philadelphia Phillies closer José Alvarado was suspended for 80 games on Sunday following a positive test for external testosterone under Major League Baseball’s drug-testing program.

Alvarado, among the hardest-throwing relievers, became the second player suspended this year under the big league testing program after Atlanta outfielder Jurickson Profar.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said the positive test was caused by a weight loss drug Alvarado took during the offseason. Dombrowski said Alvarado accepted the suspension and did not appeal.

“It’s not something he did knowingly,” Dombrowski said. “I believe that, the way he talked to me.”

Barring rainouts that push games into later this season, Alvarado would be eligible to return on Aug. 19 against Seattle. Alvarado would lose $4.5 million, exactly half his $9 million salary this year, as part of a $22 million, three-year contract.

Because of the suspension, he would be ineligible for the postseason.

Taylor released by Dodgers >> Chris Taylor was released by the Los Angeles Dodgers to clear a roster spot for utilityman Tommy Edman, who was activated off the injured list on Sunday.

Taylor, who played all three outfield spots and second base this season, is owed $13,435,484 from a $60 million, four-year contract he agreed to ahead of the 2022 season. He is due the remaining $9,435,484 of his $13 million salary this season and a $4 million buyout of a 2026 club option.

Taylor, who turns 35 in August, was the longest-tenured position player on the roster after backup catcher Austin Barnes was designated for assignment on Wednesday.

Softball

Sooners win regional 12-1 over Cal >> Ailana Agbayani and Kasidi Pickering each belted three-run home runs and three pitchers combined on a two-hitter as second-seeded Oklahoma dismantled Cal 12-1 to win the Norman Regional.

The Sooners (48-7) are seeking their fifth-straight national championship.

Miranda De Nava (13-6) took the loss for the Golden Bears (37-21), who lost 11-2 to the Sooners a day earlier.

Motor sports

Bell beats Logano in All-Star Race >> Christopher Bell passed Joey Logano with nine laps remaining and cruised to victory in an action-packed NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

In a slam-bang affair that set a record for lead changes, Bell won by 0.829 seconds over Logano to earn his first All-Star Race victory. Ross Chastain finished third, followed by Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott.

Logano elected to stay on track rather than pit during the final yellow. The decision proved to be costly while trying to hold off Bell, who had pitted for two fresh tires.

ROOKIE WINS INDY POLE >> A rookie driver for a brand new team won the pole for the Indianapolis 500 on a strange day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where Team Penske was disqualified before the final two rounds of qualifying.

Robert Shwartzman, a 25-year-old with dual nationality in Israel and Russia, became the first Indy 500 rookie to qualify on the pole since 1983 when he did it for Prema Racing.

The pole was wide open for the taking first when Team Penske was disqualified from qualifying for an illegal modification on the cars of two-time defending Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden and Will Power, and Scott McLaughlin destroyed his car in a Sunday morning crash during practice.

Tennis

Alcaraz beats Sinner >> There’s only one player who is consistently beating Jannik Sinner.

Carlos Alcaraz defeated the top-ranked player again, beating Sinner 7-6 (5), 6-1 to win his first Italian Open snd add another big clay-court title to his resume.

Since the start of last year, Alcaraz is the only player to beat Sinner more than once and now he’s done it four straight times.