Friday's Sports In Brief

Mar 20, 2010 - 10:20 AM NEW YORK(AP) -- Tweaking the postseason schedule. Eliminating the link between the All-Star game and World Series. Adding replay for fair-or-foul calls down the lines.

Oh, and a message to the Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers: Hurry up!

Baseball is looking to make adjustments. Some soon, others later. Some significant, others subtle.

One change already is in effect. Pitchers now can touch their mouths or lips on the mound at any time to get a better grip. No need to step off or ask the umpire's permission, provided they're not standing on the rubber and then wipe their fingers.

The Official Playing Rules Committee made that shift in December, the same month commissioner Bud Selig convened a special, 14-member panel to examine all facets of the game. He repeatedly said "there are no sacred cows."

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully was released from the hospital after bumping his head, and is looking forward to broadcasting a Dodgers exhibition game this weekend.

The 82-year-old Scully went to the hospital Thursday night as a precaution after he got up from bed too quickly, fell and hit his head, team spokesman Josh Rawitch said.

Scully expressed his thanks to everyone. He plans to work Sunday's Dodgers-Indians game in Arizona, his first spring training game this year.

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) - Cliff Lee's eventful first spring with the Seattle Mariners continued when the lefty ace was diagnosed with a lower right abdominal strain that will cost him at least a week of spring training.

Lee was examined in Seattle by team physician Dr. Edward Khalfayan. Lee underwent an ultrasound and was given a platelet-rich plasma injection. The team said he would be re-evaluated in seven days.

Lee underwent surgery on Feb. 5 to remove a bone spur on his left foot. That slowed his progress in spring training and he's been limited to just 5 2-3 innings so far.

He was also ejected from a game against Arizona earlier this week for throwing inside to Diamondbacks catcher Chris Snyder before zipping a fastball over his helmet. That earned Lee a suspension for the first five games of the regular season and a fine by Major League Baseball vice president of discipline Bob Watson.

GOLF=

PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) - Padraig Harrington picked up a pair of bonus birdies over the last five holes for a 6-under 65, his low score of the year, and built a one-shot lead at 8-under 134 going midway through the Transitions Championships.

Jim Furyk was atop the leaderboard with Harrington until missing a 6-foot par putt on the final hole. It wasn't enough to take away from an otherwise solid round of 68 to put him one shot behind. Also at 7 under were Carl Pettersson (68); Bubba Watson, who missed a 4-foot birdie putt on his final hole and had 65; and defending champion Retief Goosen (68).

Steve Stricker played the final eight holes in even par and still shot a 66, putting him in the group two shots behind.

PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) - Former PGA champion David Toms has been losing length off the tee that he can't afford, and now he knows why. Toms said he has a bone spur in his rotator cuff that will require surgery.

Toms, who shot an 8-under 63 to get into contention at the Transitions Championship, said he plans to take medication to at least get through the Masters. After that, he might have to have arthroscopic surgery that will keep him out two months.

PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) - Tiger Woods won't replace AT&T with a new corporate sponsor on his golf bag when he returns at the Masters, instead using his Nike brand.

AT&T dropped him as a sponsor on Dec. 31 in the midst of the infidelity scandal.

It will be the first time since he turned pro that Woods has used an existing sponsor's logo on the bag. The golf bag and hat are the two areas in golf where companies get the most television exposure.

Mark Steinberg, Woods' agent at IMG, said the golfer will be using the "TW" brand at Nike, his longest corporate sponsor.

PRO BASKETBALL=

CHICAGO (AP) - LeBron James became the youngest player to score 15,000 points, breaking Kobe Bryant's mark by more than two years in the first quarter of the Cleveland Cavaliers' 92-85 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

James had 29 points against the Bulls to push his total to 15,026. James reached the milestone at 25 years, 79 days, and he did it in his 540th game. Bryant was 27 years, 136 days and playing his 657th game, according to STATS LLC, when he did it for the Los Angeles Lakers.

PRO FOOTBALL=

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - Four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Joey Porter agreed to a three-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals.

Porter, entering his 12th season, spent the past three with the Miami Dolphins, who released him in March. He played the first eight years of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

With 92 career sacks, Porter trails only Jason Taylor (127 1/2) among active players. Porter has 12 career interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, 23 forced fumbles and nine fumble recoveries with two returned for TDs.

TENNIS=

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) - Jelena Jankovic defeated Samantha Stosur 6-2, 6-4 to reach the women's final of the BNP Paribas Open, where she'll play Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki. Wozniacki beat fifth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 6-2, 6-3, a win that is projected to raise her world ranking to No. 2 next week.

Andy Roddick advanced to the men's semifinals with a 6-3, 7-5 win over 18th-seeded Tommy Robredo of Spain, who lost to the American for the 11th consecutive time. Roddick will play No. 6 seed Robin Soderling in Saturday's semifinals. The Swede defeated No. 4 seed Andy Murray 6-1, 7-6 (4).

Defending champion Rafael Nadal plays 20th-seeded Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia in the other semi.