CHICAGO (AP) - Lou Piniella's lame-duck tenure as Chicagomanager began with his Cubs winning a 14-7 decision over Houstonbehind three Aramis Ramirez home runs last night. The 66-year-oldPiniella, who's been a major league manager for 22 seasons and incharge of the Cubs since 2006, says he's retiring at the end of theseason.
ST. LOUIS (AP) - Chris Carpenter worked eight dominant inningsand the St. Louis Cardinals got home runs from Randy Winn and MattHolliday in winning their seventh in a row with a 7-1 victory overslumping Philadelphia. The Phillies are 1-and-5 since the All-Starbreak.
NEW YORK (AP) - Hideki Matsui (hih-DEK'-ee mat-SOO'-ee), MaicerIzturis (MY'-sur ihz-TUR'-ihs) and Mike Napoli (NAP'-oh-lee) hittwo-run homers to back spot starter Sean O'Sullivan, and the L.A.Angels trounced the New York Yankees 10-2. O'Sullivan was startingin place of Scott Kazmir, who was put on the disabled list Sundaybecause of shoulder fatigue.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - There's a big change at the top of theembattled athletic program at Southern California. Mike Garrett isout as Trojans athletic director and incoming is former SouthernCalifornia QB Pat Haden, a respected member of USC's board oftrustees.
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - The NHL is rejecting Ilya Kovalchuk's(EEL'-yah KOH'-vul-chookz) landmark 17-year, $102 million contractwith the New Jersey Devils. The NHL has determined the landmarkdeal was designed to circumvent the league's salary cap.
