Cubs' Wood could be done for season

Kerry Wood's comeback has hit a snag. Maybe even a season-ending one for the Chicago Cubs righthander. Wood, who has made just four starts following shoulder surgery in August, said yesterday he's concerned he might not be able to pitch again this year. Wood experienced fatigue during the late stages of a 70-pitch simulated game at Jacobs Field in Cleveland Tuesday. He's eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list today, but it now looks as if that will be delayed . . . Albert Pujols said he should be ready to come off the disabled list and play by Monday when the St. Louis Cardinals open a three-game series at home against the Cleveland Indians . . . Outspoken Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen apologized for using a derogatory term used to describe someone's sexual orientation in referring to Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti. When asked about sensitivity training in light of his comments, Guillen said: ``I've been here for 20 years, but people have to know that I grew up in a different country. That's not an excuse. I called the guy that name, but, no, that's the way I grew up, that's the way I've learned that language."

Jim Beattie, the Orioles' executive vice president from December 2002 until he was demoted to a consultant's position last October, told the Baltimore Sun former Orioles first baseman David Segui informed him on Sept. 12, 2004, that he was using HGH. Beattie contends that he pointedly asked Segui why he was using the substance, which is now illegal under baseball's new drug policy, and was given no answer. Segui was placed on the disabled list the next day and never played major league baseball again . . . Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo testified in a probe headed by former Senate majority leader George Mitchell to investigate the use of steroids in baseball. Perlozzo insists the Orioles inform their players of the dangers of drugs.

Roger Clemens is prepared for his 2006 major league debut tonight against the Minnesota Twins, just 23 days and three minor league starts after rejoining the Houston Astros. His first start comes exactly eight months after his last major league appearance, when he left Game 1 of the World Series with a strained hamstring . . . Tyler Minges's bases-loaded double drove in three runs as the Sea Dogs scored five times in the fifth inning to come from behind and beat the Connecticut Defenders, 7-3, in Portland, Maine . . . Jay Cox homered twice and made a great catch in the ninth inning to help North Carolina move to the College World Series championship round with a 6-5 victory over Cal State Fullerton at Omaha . . . In the late game, Daniel Turpen and Joe Paterson combined on a five-hitter, Shea McFeely homered, and Oregon State stayed alive with a 5-0 victory over Rice.

The NHL board of governors approved the sale of the St. Louis Blues to a group headed by Dave Checketts, the former president of Madison Square Garden. The board also approved the sale of the Phoenix Coyotes by Steve Ellman to Jerry Moyes . . . The San Jose Sharks declined an option on veteran left wing Scott Thornton. Thornton, 35, had been with the Sharks since 2000, scoring 147 points in 342 games . . . The New Jersey Devils have completed their purchase of the AHL franchise in Lowell. The team, formerly the Lock Monsters, will be known as the Lowell Devils . . . Days before the Mighty Ducks were to change their name to the Anaheim Ducks, the City Council approved an agreement guaranteeing the word ``Anaheim" can't be eliminated from the franchise.

Becky Hammon scored 23 points and Shameka Christon added 21 to lead the Liberty to a 72-66 WNBA victory over the Washington Mystics in New York . . . Tamika Whitmore scored 17 points to help Indiana beat the visiting Chicago Sky, 77-55. It was the Fever's largest margin of victory this season . . . Diana Taurasi scored 18 of her 26 points in the second half and the Phoenix Mercury got their first road win of the season with an 87-80 victory over the Seattle Storm . . . Chamique Holdsclaw scored 20 points to lead the host Los Angeles Sparks over the Houston Comets, 75-55 . . . . Erin Buescher scored 16 points and Yolanda Griffith had 15 points and eight rebounds to lead the host Sacramento Monarchs to a 75-69 victory over the San Antonio Silver Stars . . . The San Antonio Spurs sent center Rasho Nesterovic and cash to the Toronto Raptors for Matt Bonner and ex-Celtic Eric Williams, both forwards, and a second-round pick in 2009.

Clay-court king Rafael Nadal poses the biggest threat to Roger Federer's reign on grass -- at least based on Wimbledon seedings. Despite a modest 3-2 career record at the All England Club, Nadal is seeded second behind three-time defending champion Federer. Nadal is ahead of Andy Roddick, who is seeded third. On the women's side, Australian Open champion Amelie Mauresmo, US Open winner Kim Clijsters, and French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne are seeded 1-2-3 . . . Clyde Simms scored his first career MLS goal on a 20-yard strike to lead D.C. United to a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Fire in Washington . . . Colorado's Dedi Ben-Dayan scored in the 58th minute against Chivas USA and the Rapids finished with a 1-1 draw in Denver . . . The International Olympic Committee wants an independent inquiry to resolve the dispute between Lance Armstrong and World Anti-Doping Agency chief Dick Pound . . . Laila Ali will fight Aug. 5 in Cape Town, South Africa, against an unidentified opponent. It will be Ali's first fight in Africa, where her father, Muhammad Ali, knocked out George Foreman in 1974.