Yankees win their division series opener
NEW YORK, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Bernie Williams' three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning capped a four-run rally Tuesday night as the New York Yankees posted an 8-5 triumph over the Anaheim Angels in the opener of their American League Division Series.
After Jason Giambi's single off the glove first baseman Scott Spiezio tied the game, Williams crushed a 2-2 pitch from Brendan Donnelly over the right field wall for his 17th career postseason homer. The blast touched off a wild celebration at the ballpark, reminiscent of the Yankees' dramatic postseason home triumphs in 2001.
New York got home runs from Derek Jeter, Giambi and Rondell White over the first five innings but trailed, 5-4, entering the eighth as Anaheim got a pair of solo homers from Troy Glaus.
After Ben Weber (0-1) retired the first two batters in the eighth, Alfonso Soriano and Jeter each walked on 3-2 pitches.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia bypassed closer Troy Percival, who had struck out Giambi five times in five previous showdowns, to go with lefthander Scott Schoeneweis. Giambi ripped a one-hopper that deflected off the glove of Spiezio and past second baseman Adam Kennedy to tie the game.
Scioscia again held Percival and instead turned to Donnelly, a 31-year-old rookie who was dominant following the All-Star break but making his first postseason appearance. The righthander got ahead of Williams 1-2 but grooved his sixth pitch, which Williams lofted over the right field wall for his seventh career Division Series homer.
Yankees closer Mariano Rivera took over for Steve Karsay (1-0) in the ninth and worked around a one-out single by Darin Erstad for his 25th career postseason save in 27 opportunities.
Game Two is Wednesday in New York, with the Yankees going with veteran lefthander Andy Pettitte. The Angels, who are making their first postseason appearance since 1986, counter with Kevin Appier.
Minnesota beats Oakland in opener
OAKLAND, Calif., Oct. 2 (UPI) -- The Minnesota Twins shook off three errors and overcame a four-run deficit to stun Tim Hudson and the Oakland Athletics, 7-5, Tuesday in the opener of their best-of-five American League Division Series.
Making their first postseason appearance since 1991, the Twins - the best defensive team in the major leagues - looked every bit the newcomer, committing a pair of errors in the opening inning and another in the second to fall behind, 5-1.
But the offense picked up the defense, rallying against Hudson - who had never lost in eight career starts against Minnesota and inexperienced lefthander Ted Lilly (0-1) in the sixth.
Corey Koskie's two-run homer in the third off Hudson got Minnesota within 5-3 and Doug Mientkiewicz homered in the sixth to slice the deficit to a run. After Oakland left fielder David Justice misplayed a double by Jacque Jones that tied the game, Koskie drove in the go-ahead run with a slow roller to first.
A.J. Pierzynski, who had four hits, tripled home an insurance run off Cory Lidle in the seventh.
While their defense betrayed them, the Twins got their usual stellar effort from their vaunted bullpen. After starter Brad Radke (1-0) struggled through five innings, Johan Santana struck out two over 1 2/3 scoreless frames. J.C. Romero allowed a hit over 1 1/3 innings. Eddie Guardado retired Adam Piatt on a flyout to left with the tying run on base in the ninth for his first career postseason save.
Hudson, who was 5-0 lifetime against Minnesota, allowed four runs and eight hits, including the homers by Koskie and Mientkiewicz. Lilly entered with one out in the sixth and, making just his fifth appearance since July 21, offered little relief. In his first postseason appearance, the 26-year-old lefthander allowed two runs on three hits and a walk.
The A's have lost in the opening round of the postseason in each of the last two seasons and now face the prospect of having to win a game in Minnesota, where the Twins are 15-5 all-time in postseason play.
Game Two is Wednesday with Oakland sending lefthander Mark Mulder to the mound against Minnesota righthander Joe Mays.
Mets fire Bobby Valentine
NEW YORK, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- In a move not unexpected but still surprising, Bobby Valentine Tuesday was fired as manager of the New York Mets, two days after they finished last in the National League East with a 75-86 record.
Both Valentine and General Manager Steve Phillips had received votes of confidence from team owner Fred Wilpon in recent weeks, but he changed his mind, retaining only Phillips.
The Mets were touted as a World Series contender in 2002 after a busy offseason in which they acquired stars Mo Vaughn, Roberto Alomar, Jeromy Burnitz and Pedro Astacio. However, they were never a serious threat to the Atlanta Braves and lost a National League-record 15 straight home games at one point.
The season ended in controversy following a report in Newsday that seven Mets players allegedly smoked marijuana during the season. The report claimed that Valentine worried about drug use on his team as far back as spring training.
Valentine spent six-plus seasons as manager of the Mets and twice advanced to the postseason. His highlight was taking the Mets to the 2000 World Series against the New York Yankees before losing in five games.
After that, the team began a mysterious downward spiral, starting with a disappointing third-place finish in 2001 with a mark of 82-80.
Rangers fire manager Jerry Narron
ARLINGTON, Texas, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- The Texas Rangers on Tuesday fired manager Jerry Narron, two days after the team finished a disappointing 72-90 campaign.
"This has been a very difficult decision because I like and respect Jerry Narron," Rangers general manager John Hart said. "But we have some tough decisions now. Our fans deserve better than the record and performance of the 2002 Texas Rangers."
Hart announced the decision after evaluation meetings with Rangers owner Tom Hicks and assistant general manager Grady Fuson.
"John, Grady and I had a very constructive discussion of our entire baseball operation over the last two days," Hicks said. "I am convinced that John and Grady have made a thorough and complete evaluation in reaching the decision to change managers."
Narron, who had a 134-162 record in parts of two seasons with Texas, is the fifth manager fired since Sunday, following Bruce Kimm of the Chicago Cubs, Luis Pujols of the Detroit Tigers, Hal McRae of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Bobby Valentine of the New York Mets.
Hart indicated that the search for a new manager will begin immediately and will include candidates from both within and outside the organization.
Bengals lose Webb for season
CINCINNATI, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- The Cincinnati Bengals have announced that perennial Pro Bowl offensive tackle Richmond Webb will miss the remainder of the football season with a torn pectoral muscle.
Webb was hurt the injury during Sunday's 35-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He will undergo surgery in the near future.
Coach Dick LeBeau reportedly had been contemplating starting first-round pick Levi Jones in recent weeks over Webb. Now, Jones will be pressed into the starting lineup for the seven-time Pro Bowler.
Webb, a 6-6, 325-pounder, had started 20 straight games since signing with the Bengals prior to the 2001 season.
Selected with the ninth overall pick in 1990 by Miami, Webb made seven Pro Bowls during his tenure with the Dolphins. He started in the Pro Bowl as a rookie, replacing injured Hall of Famer and former Bengal Anthony Munoz.
The loss of Webb is just another blow for the Bengals, who have lost their four games by a combined 119-25. Next Sunday, they play at Indianapolis.The Bengals have been woeful offensively, allowing 14 sacks in four games and averaging 3.5 yards per offensive play.
Kurt Wagner undergoes surgery
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner, the NFL's MVP two of the last three years, Tuesday
underwent surgery to repair a broken right pinky. He is expected to be out 8-10 weeks.
"The surgery went well, and we anticipate that with rehabilitation, he will recover function over eight to 10 weeks," said Rams head physician Dr. Matthew J. Mattava, who performed the surgery with Dr. Richard H. Gelberman at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.
The 55-minute procedure involved the insertion of four pins into the proximal phalanx bone, which is the bone that runs along the outside of the finger from the large knuckle nearest the wrist to the middle knuckle closer to the tip of the finger.
Warner sustained the injury in the Rams' 13-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys Sunday. He broke the same finger in October 2000, but this was a new fracture.
Warner will wear a splint to protect and immobilize the finger for approximately four-to- six weeks. He will begin therapy to restore strength and range of motion. The pin will be removed after five-to-six weeks, and then Warner can begin rehabbing the finger to perform tasks such as throwing a football and receiving a snap from center.
The loss of Warner is a tremendous blow to the defending NFC champions. At 0-4, the Rams are off to their worst start in 39 years.
Flames get Drury in five-player deal
CALGARY, Alberta, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- The Calgary Flames landed one of the NHL's top clutch players Tuesday, acquiring center Chris Drury in a five-player trade with the Colorado Avalanche.
"Chris Drury and winning are intertwined," said Craig Button, Calgary Flames general manager. "He is a very good player in all areas of the game and we are very excited about adding him and the elements he brings to the Calgary Flames."
The Flames also received center Stephane Yelle and shipped defenseman Derek Morris and centers Dean McAmmond and Jeff Shantz to the Avalanche.
"Stephane Yelle has been an important contributor to two Stanley Cup teams with Colorado and is a consistent and proven two-way National (Hockey) League player," Button added.
Drury, 26, is coming off a disappointing season in which he had 21 goals and 26 assists in 82 games. He added five goals and seven assists in 21 postseason games.
Croshere sidelined by foot injury
INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Veteran power forward Austin Croshere, who is in jeopardy of not finding a roster spot with the Indiana Pacers this season, likely will miss the preseason because of a foot injury.
Croshere, 27, continues to be hampered by the stress fracture in his right foot that caused a noticeable dip in his overall production last season.
His scoring average dropped from just over 10 points per contest each of the previous two seasons to 6.8, and it was common knowledge that the Pacers had him on the trading block over the summer. The Pacers have given the bulk of the playing time at power forward to Jonathan Bender and Jeff Foster.
The Indianapolis Star reported Tuesday that there is mutual agreement in a trade, but the Pacers can't seem to fashion a deal that is money-friendly. Team president Donnie Walsh is trying to avoid the luxury tax while paying a backup nearly $40 million over the next four years.
Croshere, a 6-9, 242-pounder who is a three-point threat, has played in 291 games in his five NBA seasons, all with Indiana, after coming out of Providence in 1997. He was the 12th overall pick that year, and has per game averages of 8.0 points and 4.4 rebounds.
Raptors excuse Olajuwon from camp
TORONTO, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Aging center Hakeem Olajuwon of the Toronto Raptors, who has been limited in recent seasons because of an ongoing back problem and other physical ailments, has been excused by the team from its training camp.
He will remain on the team's active roster until a decision on his playing status is made at a later time.
General Manager Glen Grunwald said late Monday that the future does not look promising. The Raptors signed Olajuwon, 39, in 2001 after he had played his entire pro career with the Houston Rockets.
Olajuwon averaged only 7.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest in 37 starts for Toronto last season. The Raptors acquired him from Houston in August 2001 for draft picks and signed him to a three-year, $17 million deal. He has played in 1,238 games since being drafted by the Rockets out of the University of Houston in 1984. With the Rockets, he had career averages of 22.5 points and 11.4 rebounds per contest, and a league-record 3,740 blocked shots.
Wizards bring back Bobby Simmons
WILMINGTON, N.C., Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Less than three weeks after they traded swingman Bobby Simmons to the Detroit Pistons, the Washington Wizards Tuesday re-signed the small forward.
Simmons was sent to the Pistons along with Richard Hamilton and Hubert Davis in a blockbuster trade that brought them Jerry Stackhouse. Simmons was waived by the Pistons last Tuesday.
Simmons played in 30 games for the Wizards last season, averaging 3.7 points per contest. He missed 42 games on the injured list with patella tendinitis in his left knee.
The second-year pro left DePaul University in 2001 after his junior year. He was the only player in school history to record 1,000 points, 700 rebounds, 200 assists and 100 three-point field goals.
Former Oregon football coach dies
EUGENE, Ore., Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Len Casanova, who retired in 1966 as the winningest football coach ever at the University of Oregon, died early Tuesday at the age of 97 after a prolonged illness.
Casanova coached the Ducks for 16 years and compiled a record of 82-73-8, still good for second on the school's all-time list. He served as athletic director from 1967-70, remained active within the athletic department and was inducted into the Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992.
Casanova's teams made several memorable bowl appearances, including a 10-7 loss to top-ranked Ohio State in the 1958 Rose Bowl. Five years later, Oregon defeated Southern Methodist, 21-14, in the Sun Bowl.
