Sanders is expresses one of informs several veteran outfielders still looking for work in a difficult winter for many free agents. 33 ERA over 122 starts with the San Francisco Giants from 2003- 06, making him one of the most attractive free- agent pitchers before he signed with the Dodgers. 7 hitter Willie Bloomquist on foul popup, retired Olivo on a strikeout swinging and ended the threat by getting Mike Aviles to pop out to first. Jacoby Ellsbury also had four, including first two- triple game of his career. Listen That provision must be drafted carefully because of Major League Rule 3( b( 5, which states no contract shall be approved " if it contains a bonus for playing, pitching or batting skill or if it provides for the payment of a bonus contingent on the standing of the signing club at the end of the championship season " Even with that, the commissioner' s office allowed the Boston Red Sox in 2003 to give Curt Schilling a provision for a$ 2 million raise in a season following a World Series championship Boston won the title the following year.

They took him out at the right time " Owings( 3- 7) left after allowing five hits and two runs with three walks and a season high- tying six strikeouts in six innings . During one four- season stretch with the Raiders, 2000- 2003, he averaged seven rushing touchdowns per year, most of them from short range . The Red Foxes were struggling early in the second half and only led by six . She wants to show the Yankees that Wang was an asset to the team- both on the field and at the box office " Since Wang started pitching with the Yankees, everyone in Taiwan has become a Yankees fan " she said " The same is true for the one million Taiwanese in the United States, who attend games and buy merchandise " There is no question that he has performed outstandingly " she added Wang is 3- 1 with a 4 06 ERA in six appearances with New York this season . Caron Butler had 23 points and 10 rebounds for Washington, which overcame a halftime deficit with a spectacular 44- point third quarter. He blew the game in that one when his fielding error helped turn a two- run lead into a one- run loss " We couldn' t do much with him tonight " Randolph said " It was almost a perfect ballgame " Light- hitting Abraham Nunez added a sacrifice fly off Glavine in the sixth, helping the Phillies improve to 19- 13 since the All- Star break " I think there' s definitely a different type of energy in this clubhouse " Lieber said " It kind of reminds me of last year " But last year' s team finished a game behind Houston in the wild- card race.

victories- a 46- point win over China and 45- point drubbing of Puerto Rico- and offered a preview of the tougher competition the Americans will likely face at the world championship, which begins in Japan on Aug . J- The New Jersey Nets agreed to extend their lease at the Continental Airlines Arena for five years, though they expect to be in a new arena in Brooklyn, N Y, for the 2009- 10 season . The Cowboys have tough games coming up against the Bucs and Giants leading up to their bye week . Although Burnett' s numbers haven' t always matched his talent, some scouts and front- office people think he made significant strides this season as the No 2 starter in Toronto behind Roy Halladay . Correia( 11- 10) allowed six hits, did not walk a batter and struck out five He is 2- 0 with a 1 67 ERA in four starts this month. It helps with his recovery " Thurman was at Paul Brown Stadium late last week to check in with the Bengals' staff. J- New York Jets running back Thomas Jones rejoined his teammates Wednesday after boycotting voluntary workouts while in a contract dispute.

But the Angels are still struggling to generate enough offense . In addition, New York Yankees slugger Jason Giambi, a former member of the A' s who worked with Washington in the Oakland farm system, gave$ 20, 000 to Washington to help his family recover Washington cried when Giambi gave him the money . The Padres also got a sliding catch from center fielder Tony Gwynn that saved another run " I can' t say enough about the plays we are making, especially in the outfield " Padres manager Bud Black said " You' re seeing speed make a difference in the outfield " Richard( 4- 1) carried a shutout into the seventh inning before he gave up a solo homer to Josh Bard with two outs . The Pacers made nine of their first 11 shots to take a 20- 6 lead The Pistons improved to 25- 13 on the road Indiana shot 52 percent from the field They are 7- 4 when they shoot better than 50 percent Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press . Now, he wants that deal redone " At the time I wasn' t the top running back " Westbrook said " I' ve improved since then, and now the quality of play is different, and that' s why I' m seeking an adjustment in the contract " Sheppard was expected at camp. Toliver and Coleman, the team' s only seniors, were freshmen on the 2006 team that won the program' s first national title. The 6- 9 forward, the 23rd pick in the 2003 draft, averaged 5 4 points and 2 0 rebounds in 59 games last season In the last two months of the season he averaged 9 1 points and 2 9 rebounds in 21 3 minutes Denver Nuggets: The Nuggets have exercised their$ 3.

William Myers would operate next week in Philadelphia " It' s better than three to six months or three to six years " Hill said . Jones' agent, Worrick Robinson, did not respond to repeated requests for a comment by " Outside the Lines " On Wednesday, the Cowboys also declined to comment . That was when John Smoltz was a rookie, and he says it' s really odd that a gang of Braves aren' t making plans to head to the All- Star game together as they' ve done for more than a decade . Pierzynski had an infield single to load the bases for Ozuna . I have to try to find out what is going on " Chicago' s Alex Cintron hit his second homer in six days- a solo shot in the third. Cockfighting is legal and popular in the Dominican Republic " I understand that people are upset, but that is part of our Dominican culture and is legal in the Dominican Republic " Martinez said in a statement Thursday " I was invited by my idol, Juan Marichal, to attend the event as a spectator, not as a participant " But Martinez and Marichal were characterized in an Associated Press story as participating in the cockfight as honorary " soltadores " the word used to describe the person who puts the animal to fight. The Rockets are seeking reinforcements after losing a seven- game series to Dallas in the first round of the playoffs last season Houston hasn' t won a playoff series since 1997.

Jameer Nelson had a chance to win it for Orlando, but his 3- pointer fell short . 11, when he underwent surgery to repair the injury suffered in the preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles . Rhodes became the latest prominent reliever to change teams this offseason . Even without Maddux, the Braves would have a solid start on their 2004 rotation with Russ Ortiz( 21- 7, Mike Hampton( 14- 8) and Horacio Ramirez( 12- 4 . Taylor Tankersley pitched out of an eighth- inning jam and Joe Borowski pitched the ninth for his 34th save in 41 chances. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Police said Brooks drove recklessly around a police car and didn' t stop, causing officers to chase him for about five minutes.

The Raiders were 1- 3 this season under Kiffin and 5- 15 overall in his one- plus seasons . Carlton Fisk, who also played with the Chicago White Sox, is second with 990 games with the Red Sox . The Red Sox entered the series having lost eight of 11 on the road, leaving manager Terry Francona to say he was perplexed . He retired pinch- hitter Chris Coste on a slow grounder to shortstop with a runner on third to end it " It' s a big weight off our shoulders " Hanrahan said " We knew people were writing about it everywhere . Game notes The Padres are midway through a stretch of 17 games in 17 days, with their next day off on May 11 Gonzalez' s extended his hitting streak to 11 games. Andre Ethier, starting in Ramirez' s third spot in the batting order, was 1- for- 5. Davis played with the Pacers from 1991- 2000 before re- signing with the club two weeks ago " He looks the same to me " said Davis, who had 16 rebounds and three blocks " He' s the type of guy who doesn' t mind putting a team on his shoulders.

The Mavs outscored the Cavs 27- 8, outrebounded them 17- 8 and didn' t have a turnover . I kind of feel I let my teammates down by getting suspended " Coach Marvin Lewis was noncommittal on how much Henry might play in Baltimore . Although the collective bargaining agreement permits a player to have an expert present for the testing, league vice president Greg Aiello said that expert cannot be affiliated with any laboratory The expert presented by Henry, Dr William Closson of Long Island, N Y, did have such an affiliation . He was placed on the disabled list Thursday, and on Monday he' ll have an MRI exam that could clarify his odds of pitching again . The 32- year- old Batista has eight- plus years of big league experience, last playing with the Montreal Expos in 2004 " It was a natural for us and it fit with him " Twins general manager Terry Ryan said Batista has a career average of. Kobe Bryant was as much to blame as anyone, playing a poor fourth quarter in which he sapped the energy from the Lakers' only rally by missing consecutive 3- pointers just when it appeared O' Neal was about to bring Los Angeles back from a 13- point deficit. Happ appeared to catch a break when Francona shuffled the lineup and kept out some of his regulars.

There was no penalty called, which would have given the Saints a first down at the Denver 19- yard line with a little more than two minutes to play . They' ve poured their heart and soul into this franchise " Buccaneers co- chairman Joel Glazer said " It' s really been an honor to work with them . Suzuki' s stolen base in the fifth was his 27th consecutive successful attempt, which leads the majors . He got the win and even if he hadn' t, Gallagher' s first start in Oakland went as well( or better) than some former A' s aces . The Trail Blazers suspended Woods without pay during the preseason after a television news report linked him to dog fighting. Game notes Gardenhire said there is no timetable for C Joe Mauer' s return but that he seemed to be improving.

I' m very comfortable with him " manager Jerry Manuel said " He has some of the best stuff He can be a lot like( Marlins pitcher) Josh Johnson He can be dominant at any time . Dolan, chairman of MSG The Knicks open their season Friday at Cleveland . The Pistons seemed to take control with a 14- 4 run in the fourth quarter that gave them a 74- 69 lead, but Cleveland scored six straight to go back ahead in another ugly, close game " That was definitely an Eastern Conference grind- it- out game, where both teams were hitting each other and battling " Saunders said " I thought it was like' Groundhog Day' I thought it was almost the same game as before and the scoring ends up the same " The Pistons expected James to be much more aggressive Thursday night, and he was . He faced them three times this season but did not get a decision " We talked about it all year . Brian McNamee, a former personal trainer for Clemens and Pettitte, is due in Jan. According to the report, A- Rod will likely bring two lawyers with him- personal attorney Jay Reisinger, who has represented Andy Pettitte and Sammy Sosa, and a lawyer from the players' union.