Sports Log
Baseball
Phil Garner didn’t need to bring a résumé to his interview with the Houston Astros yesterday. He just wore his National League championship ring. Garner met with the Astros to talk about becoming their next manager, just over two years after the franchise fired him. His successor, Cecil Cooper, was fired Sept. 21, two weeks before Houston finished the season 74-88. Houston made its only World Series appearance under Garner in 2005, when Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte anchored the pitching staff. Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin met with the Astros later in the day. Red Sox coaches Brad Mills and Tim Bogar are scheduled to meet with the team tomorrow . . . Irish tenor Ronan Tynan says he’s sorry for making an anti-Semitic remark, and hopes for another chance to sing his noted rendition of “God Bless America’’ at Yankee Stadium, a day after the Yankees dropped their tradition of having him perform the patriotic song during the seventh-inning stretch of postseason games . . . The Pirates named Ray Searage pitching coach after two seasons in the same position with Triple A affiliate Indianapolis . . . Former Diamondbacks pitching coach Bryan Price has been hired for the same position with the Reds.Football
FBI investigated threats to Edwards
The FBI says it investigated reported threats to former Cleveland Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards after he allegedly punched a man outside a downtown nightclub. FBI Special Agent Scott Wilson said the Browns contacted the Cleveland field office about the threats shortly after the Oct. 5 incident. Wilson would not discuss the nature of the threats or who made them, and the FBI is no longer investigating them. Edwards was traded to the Jets two days after he allegedly punched a friend of NBA star LeBron James in the altercation . . . The Jets signed wide receiver Danny Woodhead to the active roster from the practice squad and released defensive tackle Howard Green.Soccer
Seattle expands plans, adds playoffs
Seattle Sounders FC became only the second expansion team to make the Major League Soccer playoffs in its first year, clinching a postseason berth with a 3-2 victory over host Kansas City . . . Chivas USA moved into sole possession of first place in the Western Conference, tying the San Jose Earthquakes, 2-2, on Justin Braun’s goal in the 66th minute . . . Luciano Emilio scored in the first half to lift host D.C. United to a 1-0 victory over the Columbus Crew . . . Defender Ugo Ihemelu scored in the 66th minute as FC Dallas beat visiting Colorado, 2-1 . . . Jim Brennan scored his second goal of the season as host Toronto FC beat Real Salt Lake, 1-0
Miscellany
Nadal heads to final after Lopez retires
Rafael Nadal advanced to the Shanghai Masters final after Feliciano Lopez became the ninth player to retire from the tennis tournament. The top-seeded Nadal will play in today’s final against sixth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko of Russia, who outlasted second-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-1) . . . Samantha Stosur earned another shot at winning her first WTA Tour singles title, reaching the Japan Women’s Open final by upsetting defending champion Caroline Wozniacki, 6-0, 4-6, 6-4 . . . Chad Campbell made a double bogey on the par-5 16th, then birdied the 18th for a 4-under 67 and a share of the third-round lead with Scott Piercy in the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas . . . Dan Forsman shot a 1-under-par 71 to take a one-stroke lead in the Champions Tour’s 
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