Iguodala extends his stay with Sixers

The Philadelphia 76ers re-signed Andre Iguodala yesterday, giving the forward a six-year contract worth a reported $80 million. Iguodala, who was a restricted free agent, helped the 76ers reach the playoffs for the first time in three years. An official announcement is expected today. Iguodala, 24, averaged 19.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.1 steals in 82 games last season. He struggled in the playoffs against Detroit, averaging 13.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. Selected with the ninth overall pick in the first round of the 2004 NBA draft, Iguodala has averaged 14.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in his career. He's also been durable, missing just six games in four years . . . Premiata Montegranaro of the Italian League announced that Shawn Kemp will play for the team starting in November. Kemp, 38, averaged 14.6 points and 8.4 rebounds over 14 NBA seasons. The six-time All-Star battled weight problems and has not played in the NBA since the 2002-03 season.

Hideki Matsui is back with the New York Yankees and is likely to be activated tomorrow when the club begins a six-game trip at Toronto. Matsui had 15 at-bats during a simulated game at the Yankees' spring training complex in Tampa yesterday. Manager Joe Girardi said the balky left knee that has derailed Matsui's rehab process several times seems to be holding up. Matsui, batting .323 with seven homers and 34 RBIs in 69 games this season, has been out since June 27 with knee problems.

After a 10-game road trip, the Tampa Bay Rays may be heading home to a hurricane. Tropical Storm Fay, which could gain momentum today and reach hurricane force after passing over Cuba, is expected to make landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast tomorrow. The Rays wrapped up their trip last night with a 7-4 win over the Rangers, and are scheduled to begin a three-game homestand tonight, all against the Angels. The Angels flew to the Tampa Bay area after Sunday's game in Cleveland. The Rays have made contingency plans with officials in St. Petersburg, where Tampa Bay plays at the Tropicana Dome. "It's one of the command centers for the city," Rays president Matt Silverman said. "As of now we're playing the game Monday. If the storm runs in its current path, Tuesday would be in doubt. We should know Monday night about Tuesday. There is no talk about moving [games] to another city."

In an attempt to bolster their beleaguered bullpen, the New York Mets acquired righthanded reliever Luis Ayala from the Washington Nationals for a player to be named. A reliable reliever for the first four years of his career, Ayala has dipped to 1-8 with a 5.77 ERA this season. New York is expected to send minor leaguer Anderson Hernandez to Washington once he clears waivers. The 30-year-old Ayala was the longest-tenured Nationals player, having joined the club in 2003 when it was located in Montreal . . . The Mets added Ayala in part because closer Billy Wagner's immediate future remains uncertain. Wagner went on the disabled list this month with a strained left forearm and was expected to be activated from the DL today, but discomfort in his pitching elbow Saturday changed those plans. He will be examined by a team doctor tomorrow . . . The Tigers placed reliever Todd Jones on the 15-day DL with a sore right shoulder, two days after he came off the DL and gave up five unearned runs . . . The Twins will send second baseman Alexi Casilla on a rehab assignment today, and he could be back with the team for the beginning of a 14-game road trip later in the week. Casilla, batting .313 in 243 at-bats in his rookie season, has been out since he tore a ligament in his right thumb July 28 . . . Devern Hansack (6-10) allowed three hits and two earned runs in 6 1/3 innings, and Dusty Brown homered as the Pawtucket Red Sox defeated host Buffalo, 8-3.

Jesus Sauceda of Matamoros, Mexico, pitched the fifth perfect game in Little League World Series history and the first in 29 years when he struck out all 12 batters in a 12-0 win over Emilia, Italy, at South Williamsport, Pa. The game went four innings instead of the usual six because of the 10-run mercy rule. "The speed of that pitcher doesn't exist in Italy," Italian manager Andrea Bettati said. Sauceda starred at the plate, too, going 3 for 3 with six RBIs, including a grand slam in the third inning.

Just as Rafael Nadal ended Roger Federer's long stay atop the men's tennis rankings, Ana Ivanovic moved back to No. 1 on the women's side. Nadal, who captured the men's singles gold medal yesterday at the Beijing Olympics, will end Federer's 4 1/2-year reign atop the rankings. When the WTA Tour rankings come out officially today, Ivanovic will be back on top - a place she will hold for at least two weeks. The 20-year-old, who held the No. 1 ranking for nine weeks from June 9-Aug. 11, moved past fellow Serb Jelena Jankovic.

Juan Martin del Potro won his fourth straight tournament, beating Viktor Troicki, 6-3, 6-3, to take the Legg Mason Classic championship in Washington. The 19-year-old, ranked No. 19 in the world, has won his last 19 matches since June 25, when he was bounced from Wimbledon in the second round . . . Albert Montanes defeated Nicolas Devilder, 7-6 (9-7), 7-5, in the first round of the Pilot Pen Tournament at New Haven . . . Lukas Dlouhy won the GHI Bronx Tennis Classic in New York, beating Leonardo Mayer, 6-0, 6-1. In the women's final, Elena Bovina defeated Anna-Lena Groenefeld, 6-3, 7-5. Bovina overcame a 5-3 deficit in the final set . . . Second-seeded Nadia Petrova dominated unseeded Nathalie Dechy, 6-2, 6-1, to win the Western and Southern Financial Groups Women's Open at Mason, Ohio.