Gross’ Suspension Starts Immediately

NEW YORK — Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Kevin Gross has lost his appeal of a 10-day suspension imposed when sandpaper was found in his glove during a game last month, the National League announced Tuesday.

The league said the suspension, “for having a foreign substance on his glove,” will begin immediately.

Gross had a four-hour hearing last Thursday before league President A. Bartlett Giamatti, who had suspended him on Aug. 11.

Giamatti “has denied the appeal . . . and upheld the original 10-day suspension after a thorough review of the facts with the parties involved,” the league said in a statement.

The sandpaper was found in Gross’ glove while he was on the mound in a game Aug. 10 against the Chicago Cubs.

The pitcher denied that he had been using the sandpaper to scuff the ball.

Gross was the second pitcher to draw a suspension this summer for doctoring the ball. Joe Niekro of the Minnesota Twins was suspended for 10 days by the American League.