Hatcher Suspended for Cork Bat

NEW YORK — National League President A. Bartlett Giamatti today suspended Billy Hatcher of the Houston Astros for 10 days for using a corked bat and fined Astros manager Hal Lanier an undisclosed sum.

The suspension means that Hatcher, the Astros’ leading hitter with a batting average of .311, will miss eight games, including a crucial National League West series against San Francisco starting Monday. Lanier was fined “because he is responsible for the use of illegal equipment by members of his team,” the league said. Hatcher was ejected from Tuesday night’s game against the Chicago Cubs after his bat split open, revealing it had been injected with cork.