Red Sox release pitcher John Smoltz
BOSTON, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- The Boston Red Sox Monday released 42-year-old veteran pitcher John Smoltz.
The Boston Herald reported the Red Sox were forced to release Smoltz, a long-time star with the Atlanta Braves, after failing to make a trade for him.
Smoltz was designated for assignment Aug. 7, one day after he gave up eight runs, nine hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings against the New York Yankees. The loss dropped him to 2-5 on the season, and raised his earned run average to 8.33.
Smoltz had signed a one-year deal with Boston in January after more than two decades with the Braves.
Off-season shoulder surgery and subsequent rehab delayed his Red Sox debut until June 25. Only twice in eight starts did he allow fewer than five earned runs, and only twice did he pitch six innings.
Once Smoltz clears unconditional waivers Wednesday, he is free to negotiate with any other team.
Rams QB breaks finger on throwing hand
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger suffered a fracture of the little finger of his passing hand Monday, and will miss the next two weeks, the team said.
Rams Coach Steve Spagnuolo called it a "small fracture" that was shown to be non-displaced. Spagnuolo said Bulger won't wear a cast and instead will have the finger taped.
Spagnuolo said Bulger "won't do very much for two weeks, just to be on the safe side."
Kyle Boller will be the Rams' starting quarterback in Bulger's absence.
The Rams have a pre-season home game Friday against the Atlanta Falcons.
Toronto reported trading Delfino to Bucks
TORONTO, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- The Toronto Raptors reportedly reached a deal Monday to send forward Carlos Delfino to Milwaukee in exchange for forward Amir Johnson.
ESPN.com reported the deal will also send Roko Ukic to Milwaukee and guard Sonny Weems from the Bucks to the Raptors. The report said the deal will not be finalized before Tuesday as Delfino must fly from Argentina to sign a contract with the Bucks.
Delfino, a four-year veteran, played in all 82 games last season for Toronto and averaged 9.0 points and 4.4 rebounds. Delfino, who spent his first three seasons with Detroit, averaged 5.8 points and 3.0 rebounds in 262 games.
Johnson, whom Milwaukee acquired from Detroit, has played in 135 games in his three-year career, and averaged of 3.7 points and 3.8 rebounds.
Ukic played in 72 games last season with Toronto, his first in the NBA. Weems, who went to Milwaukee from Denver in July, played in 12 games for the Nuggets last season.
Sharapova advance at $2 million Rogers Cup
TORONTO, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Russian Maria Sharapova advanced out of the first round Monday at the $2 million Rogers Cup in Toronto.
Sharapova defeated countrywoman Nadia Petrova, the 10th-seed, 6-3, 6-4. It was the third time this season that Sharapova has beaten Petrova.
Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland defeated Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3, 6-3.
In upsets, Italian Francesca Schiavone beat Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 and Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine beat Marion Bartoli of France 6-4, 6-3.
Australian Samantha Stosur held off Canadian Heidi El Tabakh 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-4), to move into a match against French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, and Frenchwoman Aravane Rezai beat countrywoman Alize Cornet 6-4, 7-5 and next plays top-ranked Dinara Safina.
Safina beat Dominika Cibulkova in last year's Rogers Cup finale in Montreal. Safina was last week's Cincinnati runner-up.
This week's field also features Wimbledon, Australian Open and U.S. Open champion Serena Williams.
