Red Wings win sixth straight
DETROIT, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Sergei Fedorov and Tomas Holmstrom each scored power-play goals Wednesday night as the Detroit Red Wings extended their winning streak to six games with a 4-1 triumph over the Edmonton Oilers.
Detroit struck first after Oilers center Marty Reasoner was whistled for high sticking with 8:23 left in the first period. The Red Wings worked the puck around on the power play to Fedorov, who buried a slap shot from the right point past Oilers goaltender Tommy Salo.
Fedorov has scored at least one goal in each of the last five games and owns a six-game points streak.
After Jason Smith was called for his second roughing penalty with 8:49 left in the second period, the Red Wings again took full advantage on the power play.
Brendan Shanahan's shot from the left point was deflected by Holmstrom past Salo for a 2-0 lead. Shanahan's 15 points lead the NHL and he has points in all nine games for Detroit.
Other NHL results: Washington 4, Florida 3 in overtime; Carolina 7, Minnesota 3; Pittsburgh 3; Dallas 2; Anaheim 3, Phoenix 2 in overtime.
Schilling to face Mussina in Game 1
PHOENIX, Ariz., Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Arizona Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly announced Wednesday Brian Anderson would be his team's No. 3 starter behind Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson in the World Series, which gets underway Saturday.
New York's Joe Torre, meanwhile, said Mike Mussina would pitch Game 1 Saturday, followed by Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens and Orlando Hernandez.
As the Yankees go for their fourth straight World Series title and fifth in six years, it will be up to their pitching staff to match the powerful 1-2 Arizona combination of Schilling and Johnson.
"We're going to have good pitchers going, too," the New York manager said. "It's going to be our job to match what they can do and keep the game close. That's been our formula."
Anderson will appear in Game 3 on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium, having endured an up-and-down season that saw him start as the No. 3 man in the roation but then struggle with injuries and a general inability to get the job done.
Miguel Batista has been listed as the No. 4 starter by the Diamondbacks.
Anderson was 4-9 during the regular season with a 5.20 ERA in 29 games. Seven of those appearances came from the bullpen.
Juan Gonzalez becomes free agent
CLEVELAND, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- The Cleveland Indians unexpectedly announced Wednesday they had declined to pick up the 2002 option on Juan Gonzalez, instantly making the star outfielder a free agent.
The club did pick up the 2002 option on manager Charlie Manuel, but in an apparent cost-costing move parted ways with Gonzalez, who drove in 140 runs in 140 games, batted .325 and belted 35 homers this season.
In his only season in a Cleveland uniform, the former Texas Ranger was the center of the Indians' powerful lineup as the team captured the American League Central Division title for the sixth time in seven years.
Gonzalez was signed to a one-year, $10 million contract in January in part to replace Manny Ramirez, who departed for Boston. The deal included a $14 million mutual option, meaning either party had the right to void the second year.
Rippley crew chief for Series
NEW YORK, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Steve Rippley, an 18-year umpiring veteran, was named Wednesday as the crew chief for the 97th World Series.
Rippley will be working his third World Series and will be behind the plate for Game 1 between the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees on Saturday.
Mark Hirschbeck (first base), Dale Scott (second base) and Jim Joyce (left field) all will be working their second World Series.
Dana DeMuth will be in right field for Game 1 and be calling his fourth World Series. Third-base ump Ed Rapuano will be working his first Fall Classic.
Godolphin Stable goes after big prizes
ELMONT, N.Y., Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Godolphin Stable flexed its muscle as one of Thoroughbred racing's most powerful forces Wednesday by taking a surprising run at two of the top events in Saturday's Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships.
Godolphin, based in Dubai, announced it will split up its European superstars, with Arc d'Triomphe winner Sakhee a surprise starter in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic and Fantastic Light going in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Turf. Before the post-position draw at Belmont Park, most racing observers thought Sakhee would run in the Turf and Fantastic Light in the Classic against Galileo, his year-long rival in England.
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said the decision was made by the owners -- members of the ruling family of Dubai.
"Fantastic Light has run all his life on the turf," Suroor said. "This also is the last year for him to run. Sakhee may stay in training for another year."
Galileo, a 3-year-old son of Sadler's Wells, beat Fantastic Light in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot in July. Fantastic Light, a 5-year-old son of Rahy, reversed that order of finish in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown last month in one of the year's most anticipated and most exciting races. Still, Suroor said the rivalry will be
carried on by Sakhee.
"Galileo is a great horse -- a very good horse," he said. "I think Sakhee can go with him. It would have been a great race. But Sakhee and Fantastic Light -- there is no difference between them. It will be a great race."
Nevertheless, the 1 1/4-mile Classic, which drew 13 starters, should be no match race between the European stars. The 2-1 favorite in the morning line, in fact, is Aptitude, who comes into the race off a dominating, 10-length victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont. Aptitude, a 4-year-old son of A.P. Indy, was second in last year's Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.
Among the other Classic entrants are last year's winner, Tiznow, who has been compromised this year by a variety of ailments, and last year's Juvenile winner, Macho Uno.
Sixers struggle in preseason
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Tim Duncan scored 20 points and Bruce Bowen added 12 Wednesday night to give the San Antonio Spurs an 81-65 exhibition victory over the shorthanded Philadelphia 76ers.
San Antonio (5-2) held a two-point lead at halftime, but took control with a 13-2 run that closed the third quarter. Stephen Jackson scored five points and Duncan added four in the spurt as the Spurs took a 67-50 lead into the fourth.
Philadelphia (1-6) made just four of 15 shots and scored only eight points in the decisive third quarter.
Malik Rose finished with 11 points and Amal McCaskill grabbed 11 rebounds for San Antonio, which held a 45-38 edge on the glass. The Spurs won despite 36 percent shooting.
Raja Bell led Philadelphia with 14 points and Matt Geiger chipped in 12 and 11 rebounds. The 76ers once again played without four key players, including the league's Most Valuable Player, Allen Iverson.
Other NBA exhibition results: Boston 96, Cleveland 88; Denver 89, Chicago 75; Sacramento 107, Memphis 94.
Bill Spiers announces retirement
HOUSTON, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Houston Astros infielder Bill Spiers, who spent 13 seasons in the major leagues with a trio of teams, annnounced his retirement Wednesday.
The 35-year-old Spiers batted .271 with 37 homers and 388 RBI in 1,252 games for the Astros (1996-2001), New York Mets (1995) and Milwaukee Brewers (1989-94) after he was the 13th overall pick in the 1987 draft.
Spiers appeared in only four games this season because of back injuries. He underwent surgery to remove a cyst and repair a ruptured disk in his lower back on May 16.
A baseball and football star at Clemson, Spiers hit over .300 twice in a Astros uniform, including a .320 clip in 132 games in 1997. He played every position during his career except pitcher and catcher, spending the majority of his time at shortstop (446 games) and third base (441).
Spiers earned team Rookie of the Year honors for the Brewers in 1989, when he hit .255 with four homers and 33 RBI in 114 games.
Allison traded from Bruins to Kings
BOSTON, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- The Boston Bruins Wednesday traded holdout center Jason Allison to the Los Angeles Kings along with left wing Mikko Eloranta for a pair of former Bruin veterans, right wing Glen Murray and center Jozef Stumpel.
Allison, who has spent over four seasons in a Bruins uniform, collected 36 goals and 59 assists during the 2000-01 campaign but the team has been unable to meet his contract demands this fall.
According to ESPN, Allison, a restricted free agent, intially asked the Bruins for a three-year deal worth more than $8 million per season. The Bruins countered with a proposal for $5.5 million-$6.5 million per year before pursuing a trade.
Boston's captain tied for fourth in the league in scoring a season ago with 92 points. He led the Bruins in scoring while tallying 11 of his goals on the power play.
Lions sign Bert Emanuel
PONTIAC, Mich., Oct. 25 (UPI) -- The winless Detroit Lions filled a gaping hole at receiver Wednesday by signing free agent Bert Emanuel.
Germane Crowell, who tore the patella tendon in his left knee in Sunday's loss to Tennessee, was placed on injured reserve. Crowell joins fellow receiver Herman Moore, who went on injured reserve last week with a torn muscle in his abdomen.
In addition, the Lions released veteran defensive end Alonzo Spellman, who was used primarily on third downs in five games this season.
Emanuel was released by the New England Patriots on Oct. 9. Signed as a free agent in March, he had four catches for 25 yards in the season opener before being listed as inactive the next two games.
Eric Metcalf joins Redskins
ASHBURN, Va., Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Eric Metcalf, once one of the top special teams players and all-around threats in the NFL, Wednesday signed a contract with the Washington Redskins.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The 5-10, 190-pound Metcalf, who doubles as a wide receiver and kick returner, joins the Redskins after being released by the Oakland Raiders prior to the 2001 season. He is a 12-year NFL veteran.
Metcalf is one of only two players in league history -- Brian Mitchell is the other -- to return 11 punts or kickoffs for touchdowns and he holds several other career punt return records, including career touchdowns (9).
Originally the 13th overall selection in the 1989 draft, Metcalf has played for the Cleveland Browns (1989-94), Atlanta Falcons (1995-96), San Diego Chargers (1997), Arizona Cardinals (1998) and Carolina Panthers (1999).
He has totaled 3,042 yards on 315 punt returns and 5,747 yards and two TDs on kickoff returns and is ninth on the all-time NFL combined yardage list with 16,727 yards.
Phil Mickelson to skip Tour Championship
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla., Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Following the birth of his second child, defending champion Phil Mickelson plans to skip next week's Tour Championship.
Mickelson's second daughter, Sophia Isabel, was born on Tuesday.
Currently second on the money list with $4,403,883, Mickelson defeated Tiger Woods by two strokes to win last year's Tour Championship in Atlanta. Mickelson has two wins this year, most recently the Greater Hartford Open in July.
Only the top 30 players are allowed to compete in next week's Tour Championship, which will be held at the Champions Golf Club in Houston.
