The South Florida doctor under federal investigation for allegedly providing Manny Ramirez with an improper prescription denied a connection with the All-Star outfielder.
Pedro Publio Bosch released a statement to ESPN, which first identified him as the source of Ramirez's prescription for a banned female fertility drug that led to his 50-game suspension.
"First, Mr. Manny Ramirez is not, nor has he ever been my patient," the statement read. "I have never prescribed drugs of any kind whatsoever to Mr. Ramirez."
"Second, in my thirty-three years of practicing medicine in Coral Gables, Florida, I have never prescribed HCG, not to Mr. Manny Ramirez nor anyone else."
The statement made no mention of Bosch's son, Anthony Bosch, who is believed to have been a conduit between the doctor and Ramirez.
Ramirez has refused to say whether he knows Pedro or Anthony Bosch.
Pedro Bosch also said in the statement that he was not aware of being under federal investigation.
A federal law enforcement official familiar with the matter told The Times that the Drug Enforcement Administration has opened a preliminary investigation into the elder Bosch, but said it was "a little premature" to call it a full-scale formal investigation.
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Short hops
Rafael Furcal, who has been sitting out one game a week as a precaution to protect his surgically repaired back, is expected to be in the lineup today for the series finale in Milwaukee. Asked whether he could start treating Furcal like a normal player again, Torre knocked on the wooden desk in his office and said, "He's feeling pretty good." . . . Russell Martin is expected to sit. . . . Hiroki Kuroda will be available to pitch in relief.
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dylan.hernandez@latimes.com
