Salem Avalanche outfielder Adam Seuss is on the slim side. He carries 185 pounds on his 6-foot frame, and his extra-base hits tend more toward doubles than home runs. On Friday, though, Seuss became a casualty in baseball's war on performance-enhancing drugs.

Seuss, 24, has been suspended 15 games after testing positive for a performance enhancing drug when the the minor leaguers were tested in spring training.

"I was shocked," Seuss said, adding that he heard about the positive test from the Houston Astros two days ago.

Seuss said he had taken an "over-the-counter supplement" and that something came up. He would not say what the supplement was or what it was for.

Policy in the minor leagues calls for a 15-game suspension the first time a player tests positive. Major leaguers face a 10-game suspension for a first offense.

Seuss is in his second season with the Avalanche. Last year, he hit .283 with 20 doubles, seven home runs and 64 RBI. Salem's parent club, the Houston Astros, traded him to the New York Mets for major-league pitcher Dan Wheeler on Aug.27, a week before the Carolina League season ended.

The Mets released Seuss near the end of spring training, and the Astros picked him and returned him to Salem.

Seuss is hitting .178 with a double and a homer in the Avalanche's first 13 games.

He was one of only four outfielders on the Salem roster. Ryan Kochen, who had been out with a strained muscle in his side, started in Seuss's spot in left field Friday.

Outfielder Mike Floyd is expected to join the Avalanche today. Floyd, 25, came from the Philadelphia Phillies organization, where he hit hit .261 with 10 homers and 39 RBI for Clearwater in the Florida State League. His younger brother is Phillies pitcher Gavin Floyd.

Seuss is the second player to play in Salem to test positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Jorge Piedra, an outfielder for Salem in 2002 when the team was affiliated with the Colorado Rockies, was suspended earlier this season.

Rain delays Friday's games

Friday night's doubleheader between Salem and Lynchburg at City Stadium was suspended with the Avalanche leading 3-2 in the fifth inning of the first game. The completion of the game will begin at 6:05 p.m. tonight, followed by a seven-inning contest.

(C)2005 The Roanoke Times