SAN FRANCISCO — Melky Cabrera's MVP-like year is over — at least for the regular season.

The San Francisco outfielder was suspended 50 games Wednesday after a positive test for testosterone.

Cabrera, the MVP of last month's All-Star Game, is batting .346 with 11 home runs and 60 runs batted in during his first season as a Giant. He leads the National League with 159 hits.

The 28-year-old Cabrera, who became a marketing phenomenon this year with nicknames like "Got Melk?" "Melk Man" and "Melky Way," had 51 hits in May, when he batted .429.

"My positive test was the result of my use of a substance I should not have used," he said in a statement. "I accept my suspension ... I am deeply sorry for my mistake and I apologize to my teammates, to the San Francisco Giants organization and to the fans for letting them down."

He will miss the final 45 games of the regular season and serve the remainder of the suspension at the start of next season or during the postseason, depending on whether the Giants make the playoffs.

Cabrera is set to become a free agent after this season, so he might have cost himself a big payday, too.

Note

• None of the Red Sox players in a series of meetings with the team's top brass called for manager Bobby Valentine to be replaced, owner John Henry said.

Henry issued a statement one day after Yahoo! Sports reported that several players met with him and team president Larry Lucchino last month to complain about Valentine's handling of the team.

"No one in that meeting at any time took the position that Bobby should be or needed to be replaced," said Henry, adding that the players took responsibility for the team's sub-.500 performance.