Davenport gets by at Roland Garros
PARIS, May 27 (UPI) -- Australian Open runner-up Lindsay Davenport again struggled at the French Open Friday, but eased past Virginie Razzano of France with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 win to advance to the fourth round.
Also winning early matches were No. 14 Kim Clijsters, former French Open champion Mary Pierce, 2004 runner-up Elena Dementieva and eighth-seeded Patty Schnyder.
No. 14 Venus Williams, the runner-up in 2002, was knocked off by 15-year-old Sesil Karatantcheva of Bulgaria, 6-3, 1-6, 6-1.
On the men's side, winners included top seed Roger Federer, No. 4 Rafael Nadal and No. 14 Carlos Moya.
Betting scandal rocks Germany
FRANKFURT, Germany, May 27 (UPI) -- A soccer betting scandal in Germany has forced the country's soccer federation to seek a lifetime ban on a referee and his attendant.
The soccer season ended this week, but the scandal, which started in January, has continued to persist, reports the Frankfurter Allgemeine.
Referee Jurgen Jansen and attendant Wieland Ziller are suspected of taking bribes to manipulate two games, the report said.
The federation's latest charges stem from new statements by Ante Sapina, a Croatian betting café owner who is suspected of being the mastermind behind the scam.
News reports alleged Sapina paid Jansen about $56,700 to manipulate the two games. Some of the payments allegedly were channeled through Ziller, the reports said.
Sapina also told investigators referee Dominik Marks accepted money in return for manipulating games, the news reports said. Last Friday, the federation requested a lifelong ban for Marks as well.
Jansen and Marks have denied any wrongdoing.
Schilling's absence could be lengthy
BOSTON, May 27 (UPI) -- Boston ace Curt Schilling won't be using his right arm for awhile, but his return is uncertain.
He has a bone bruise in his right ankle, the same ankle he injured late last season, leading to off-season surgery.
Encouraging news is that he no longer needs the protective boot he has been wearing since he last pitched on April 23, but the team said on its Web site his could be a 12-week absence, which would mean a mid-July return or until after the all-star break.
"I don't know when he'll be back," said Manager Terry Francona. "His ankle, by being in a boot for three weeks, he's lost muscle and strength. He's got to get that back, (but) that's not going to take a couple of days."
The right-hander, who led the Red Sox to a World Series title last season, has a 1-2 record with an 8.15 ERA. He is on the disabled list.
Nationals make major roster adjustments
WASHINGTON, May 27 (UPI) -- After a three-game sweep by Cincinnati this week, the Washington Nationals have made nine roster moves.
They signed left-hander C.J. Nitkowski, designated right-hander Claudio Vargas for assignment, sent right-hander Zach Day to Triple-A New Orleans, and promoted right-hander Sun-woo Kim, outfielder Tyrell Godwin and right-hander T.J. Tucker. The latter three also had been at New Orleans.
Also, they placed right-handers Jon Rauch and John Patterson on the 15-day disabled list and transferred outfielder Terrmel Sledge from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL.
Much of Washington's recent struggles has been due to injuries and ineffective pitching. The Nationals head into St. Louis for a holiday weekend series against the Cardinals having lost five of their last six to fall to just one game over .500 at 24-23.
"I don't like to lose," said General Manager Jim Bowden. "We need to fix the parts that are broken."
The roster moves were made Thursday.
