Disgruntled Thomas cut by Blue Jays

Slumping designated hitter Frank Thomas was released yesterday by the Blue Jays, who cut the 19-year veteran one day after he became angry after being taken out of the lineup. General manager J.P. Ricciardi said he and Thomas came to "a mutual agreement" after a pregame meeting in the clubhouse. "Our best opportunity is to put other guys in the lineup at this point," Ricciardi said. "Obviously, reduced playing time is not something that he was interested in." The move leaves the Blue Jays on the hook for the remainder of the two-year $18 million contract the 39-year-old Thomas signed in November 2006. Thomas, who has 516 career homers, batted .167 with three homers and 11 RBIs this year . . . The Blue Jays also sent third baseman Scott Rolen (broken finger) to Single A Dunedin to begin a rehabilitation assignment.

Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins was placed on the 15-day disabled list for the first time in his eight-year career. The reigning National League MVP sprained his left ankle April 8 and has not started a game since he was hurt, but had pinch hit four times, including in Saturday's game against New York . . . Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner told the New York Times in a phone interview that he wants setup man Joba Chamberlain moved into the starting rotation, saying, "I want him as a starter and so does everyone else, including him . . . you don't have a guy with a 100-mile-per-hour fastball and keep him as a setup guy. You just don't do that. You have to be an idiot to do that." . . . Hideo Nomo's career in the majors might be over. The Royals designated the 39-year-old righthander for assignment, perhaps ending his 12 seasons in the big leagues. Righthander Luke Hochevar, whom Kansas City selected first overall in the 2006 draft, was called up from Triple A Omaha and took the loss yesterday against Oakland . . . The Athletics put reliever Keith Foulke on the 15-day DL with stiffness in his neck.

Roger Federer ended a long drought with his first ATP title of the year, and it took a leg injury to his opponent to ensure victory for the world's top-ranked player. Federer captured his 54th career title, winning the Estoril Open in Oeiras, Portugal, when second-seeded Nikolay Davydenko retired with a left leg injury while trailing, 7-6 (7-5), 1-2. Federer's first title came in his fifth tournament of the season. It had been eight years since Federer had needed so many events to reach a final . . . Fifth-seeded Serena Williams captured the Family Circle Cup title in Charleston, S.C., defeating Vera Zvonareva, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, for her first clay court crown since the 2002 French Open . . . Seventh-seeded Marcel Granollers-Pujol upset top seed James Blake, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5, in the US Men's Clay Court Championship in Houston for his first tour title . . . Top-seeded David Ferrer won his first title of the year, rallying at the Valencia Open in Spain to beat two-time defending champion Nicolas Almagro, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-2).

The draw for the men's and women's Olympic tournaments was announced, and the US women, who won gold in 1996 and 2004, will start the Beijing Games in Group G with Norway, Japan, and New Zealand. The US men were placed in Group B with the Netherlands, Nigeria, and Japan . . . Kenny Cooper and Abe Thompson scored to help FC Dallas, the lone undefeated team in Major League Soccer at 2-0-2, beat Chivas USA, 2-0, in Carson, Calif. . . . Jack Jewsbury scored early for Kansas City and the Wizards shut down the Chicago Fire for a 1-0 win in Bridgeview, Ill.

Undefeated light heavyweight Joe Calzaghe was pleased with the outcome, but not so much the execution in his American debut Saturday night, in which he won a split decision over Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas. Calzaghe (45-0) seemed even more disappointed in himself than Hopkins, who still insists he won. "Obviously, I'm very satisfied, but I felt that I didn't fight my best," Calzaghe said. "I got beat tonight, but it wasn't by Joe Calzaghe," was the 43-year-old Hopkins's take, blaming the judges. Calzaghe steamed while Hopkins (48-5-1) filibustered at the postfight news conference, dipping his head to his chest in a fake snooze. "A white boy beat you, mate," Calzaghe responded, echoing Hopkins's infamous taunt - "I would never let a white boy beat me" - back in December . . . Sylvia Fowles had 25 points, 18 rebounds, and 6 blocks to help the US women bounce back from Saturday's loss to Australia by beating Cuba, 92-60, in a preliminary-round game in the Good Luck Beijing Tournament . . . UMass junior Brandice Balschmiter tossed her second perfect game of the season in a 12-0 five-inning win over Dayton in the first game of a doubleheader sweep in Amherst. Balschmiter struck out 12, including the final eight batters . . . David Boudia won the men's 10-meter diving title and Nancilea Foster took the women's 3-meter crown, capturing their events for the second straight year at the USA Spring Diving National Championships in Minneapolis. The top eight finishers in each event qualify for the Olympic diving trials, which start June 18 . . . Tiffany Snow scored three goals to lead the United States field hockey team to a 7-0 win over Russia at an Olympic qualifying tournament in Kazan, Russia. The Americans are off to a 2-0 start at an event they must win to advance to the Beijing Games.