MLB: Howard to begin rehab
Phillies slugger Ryan Howard will start a rehab assignment today with the club’s Class-A affiliate in Lakewood. The All-Star first baseman has been sidelined with a sprained left ankle since Aug. 2.
* The Cardinals got some help at third base, acquiring Pedro Feliz from the Astros for minor league pitcher David Carpenter.
SWIM: Phelps out of 400m medley
In Irvine, Calif., two-time Olympic champion Michael Phelps failed to make the 400-meter individual medley final at the Pan Pacific championship. Phelps had the fourth-fastest time of 4 minutes, 15.38 seconds in the morning preliminaries, but only two swimmers per country are allowed in the evening final.
And he wasn’t close to being even the second-fastest American. World champion Ryan Lochte, who took the gold in the event last night, was quickest in 4:07.77, lowering Phelps’ meet record of 4:10.47 set in 2006. His U.S. teammate Tyler Clary was second in 4:09.20, which also was under the meet record.
TENNIS: Rafa, Murray heat up late
In Mason, Ohio, top-ranked Rafael Nadal needed three sets in the afternoon heat — plus a little help at the end — to avoid a huge upset. And he wasn’t alone in the midday distress.
Nadal and No. 4 Andy Murray were pushed to their limits before moving on to the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Masters. Second-ranked Roger Federer and third-ranked Novak Djokovic also advanced.
* In Montreal, Kim Clijsters breezed into the quarterfinals of the Rogers Cup with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Kaia Kanepi.
ETC.: Ex-Islander joins Thrashers
Defenseman Freddy Meyer, who appeared in 64 games with the Islanders last season, signed with the Thrashers.
* The Bureau of Land Management has suspended future event permits for the promoter of last weekend’s off-road race in the California desert where eight spectators were killed by a racing truck.
The federal agency said the suspension of any MDR Productions permits will remain in effect while an investigation of the accident is under way.
* High Point University says seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong will serve as its commencement speaker in the spring.
* Free agent point guard Earl Boykins has signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. . . . The NBA has fined Trail Blazers swingman Rudy Fernandez $25,000 for public statements that are “detrimental” to the league.