Sports in brief
BASEBALLLeyritz hired as Newark Bears pitching coach
The Newark Bears announced Friday that they have hired former Yankee Jim Leyritz as the pitching coach. It's a job back in baseball after serious legal issues that culminated last November when Leyritz was acquitted of DUI manslaughter charges in Florida. On Dec. 28, 2007, Leyritz ran a red light and collided with another car, killing 30-year-old Fredia Ann Veitch. Leyritz's most memorable moment as a Yankee came during Game 4 of the 1996 World Series. Leyritz's three-run home run off Mark Wohlers was the turning point in the Series, which the Yankees won in six games. Leyritz, 47, played seven full seasons with the Yankees and parts of the 1999 and 2000 seasons.
Guerrero, Orioles reach agreement
Free-agent slugger Vladimir Guerrero has agreed to a one-year contract with the Orioles, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. A second person with knowledge of the deal said the agreement is worth $8 million. Guerrero has 436 home runs and 1,433 RBIs in 15 seasons.
Yankees sign two veterans to minor pacts
The Yankees have signed veterans Ronnie Belliard and Eric Chavez to minor-league contracts, a source familiar with the deals confirmed. Belliard, 35, hit .216 in 82 games last season with the Dodgers and played first base, second base and third base. Chavez, 33, a third baseman who spent the previous 13 seasons with the A's, has played in a total of 64 games the last three seasons.
NHLBruins' Paille gets 4-game ban for hit to head
Daniel Paille of the Bruins was suspended for four games for an illegal check to the head of Raymond Sawada of the Stars. He is the fifth player suspended this season under a new rule aimed at cracking down on dangerous hits. Paille was ejected in the second period of Boston's 6-3 win Thursday when he was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct. Sawada had lost control of the puck, and as the forward leaned down to gain control, Paille connected with a blind-side hit to Sawada's shoulder and head. "It was a bad hit," Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference said after the game. "We can't be hypocrites when your own team does a hit like that, which the league is trying to get rid of."
Cavaliers drop 23rd straight, tie record
The Cavaliers matched the longest single-season losing streak in NBA history, dropping their 23rd straight with a 112-105 loss to the host Grizzlies. Zach Randolph had 29 points and 13 rebounds for Memphis. The Cavs tied the 1995-96 Grizzlies and the 1997-98 Nuggets . . . Jason Kidd's three-pointer with 2.5 seconds left put the Mavericks ahead as they beat the host Celtics, 101-97, for their seventh straight win. Dallas scored the final 10 points.
- AP
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