Pujols out 3 weeks with calf strain

First baseman Albert Pujols is expected to miss at least three weeks with a strained left calf, a major setback to the St. Louis Cardinals. Pujols, who is batting .347 and leads the team with 16 homers, injured his calf while running out a ground ball Tuesday. Tests yesterday indicated a strain rather than a severe tear, as initially feared, and he will start therapy in the next few days. The Cardinals also put righthander Adam Wainwright (sprained finger) on the 15-day disabled list . . . The Braves' Tom Glavine, limited to three innings Tuesday because of the pain in his strained left elbow, joined starters John Smoltz and Mike Hampton on the disabled list. Glavine is on the 15-day DL for just the second time in his 22-year career. Earlier this season, Glavine went on the DL with a hamstring injury. Jair Jurrjens, the scheduled starter for last night's game, twisted his right ankle on the steps outside the Braves' clubhouse following Tuesday's loss. Jurrjens hopes to miss only one start . . . Oakland Athletics designated hitter Mike Sweeney underwent arthroscopic surgery on both knees and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks . . . Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who has not played since May 25, will not have surgery on his injured left shoulder but will miss the next 4-6 weeks . . . One day after coming off the DL, Moises Alou was out of the Mets' lineup again because his left calf is still bothering him.

Rhode Islander Rocco Baldelli could be ready for the next step in his attempt to play in the majors again. The Rays center fielder, sidelined since May 2007 because of lingering hamstring problems and what doctors have told him is a mitochondrial disorder that causes extreme fatigue, is expected to meet with team officials about possibly joining one of Tampa Bay's minor league teams . . . Marlborough's Jim Fuller, a lefthander who led Division 2 with 145 strikeouts as a Southern Connecticut sophomore last season, signed with the Mets. New York selected him in the 21st round of last week's amateur draft.

NASCAR chairman Brian France denied that a former official complained to her supervisors about racial and sexual discrimination, claims she alleged led to her firing. Mauricia Grant filed a $225 million suit against NASCAR Tuesday, alleging racial discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliatory termination. Grant, who is black, worked as a technical inspector for NASCAR's Nationwide Series. France said the filing was the first NASCAR learned of her claims. France said NASCAR will review Grant's claims.

Big Brown's trainer, Rick Dutrow, told ESPN that he and jockey Kent Desormeaux are "back on target" after meeting at Aqueduct. Dutrow had blamed Desormeaux for Big Brown's last-place Belmont finish . . . Dutrow is scheduled to testify next week at a congressional hearing examining safety issues in thoroughbred racing.

The San Jose Sharks, coming off a disappointing third straight second-round playoff exit, hired Detroit Red Wings assistant Todd McLellan as their coach, bringing in a leader with Stanley Cup credentials to replace the fired Ron Wilson. McLellan spent the past three seasons as an assistant in Detroit, where he was considered a bright offensive coach who led Detroit's power-play units . . . Red Wings coach Mike Babcock's new contract is a three-year deal worth about $4.5 million . . . The Toronto Maple Leafs decided to keep Cliff Fletcher in the interim general manager role likely through next season . . . Vancouver Canucks forward Trevor Linden retired from the NHL 20 years to the day after the team drafted him into the league . . . Dallas Stars defenseman Mattias Norstrom retired, ending a 14-year career . . . The American Hockey League's Portland Pirates signed a three-year affiliation with the Buffalo Sabres.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner in Portugal's 3-1 victory over the Czech Republic in Geneva that moved the Portuguese (6 points in Group A) into the quarterfinals of the European Championship. In Basel, Arda Turan's late goal gave Turkey a 2-1 win that eliminated cohost Switzerland. The Turks and Czechs will play for the final spot from the group Sunday . . . Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari will become Chelsea's manager after the tournament . . . US striker Jozy Altidore signed a six-year contract with Spain's Villarreal . . . Top-ranked Ana Ivanovic (right adductor muscle) withdrew from a Wimbledon warm-up tournament at Eastbourne . . . In WNBA action, Janel McCarville's 25 points lifted the New York Liberty over the host Atlanta Dream, 81-77; Nicole Powell's 28 points sparked the visiting Sacramento Monarchs over the Washington Mystics, 79-76; Diana Taurasi's 37 points weren't enough as the visiting Phoenix Mercury lost to the Seattle Storm, 83-77; Sophia Young's 17 points boosted the host San Antonio Silver Stars over the Indiana Fever, 64-53; Lisa Leslie (17 points) led the Sparks over the Detroit Shock, 80-73, in LA.