Sports briefs

NHL

Carolina goalie Ward

gets empty-net goal

Cam Ward made 23 saves and was credited with a bizarre empty-net goal, leading the Carolina Hurricanes past the Devils, 4-2, last night. Ward's first career goal came when Ilya Kovalchuk's errant pass for Adam Henrique from the end line wound up going the length of the ice and into an empty net with 29.4 seconds left.

Officials initially awarded the goal to Sutter before a postgame review determined he never touched the puck.

David Clarkson had a goal and an assist for New Jersey. He and Henrique scored in the third period and Johan Hedberg made 30 saves for the Devils.

BASEBALL

Torrealba suspended

66 games in Venezuela

Texas Rangers catcher Yorvit Torrealba has been suspended from Venezuela's professional baseball league for 66 games for striking an umpire. Torrealba issued an apology, saying he was embarrassed about his argument with a home-plate umpire after striking out Friday for the Caracas Lions. He angrily put a hand on the umpire's mask and shoved him. He was then ejected.

Cubs sign two pitchers

The Chicago Cubs have agreed to one-year contracts with righthanders Andy Sonnanstine, 29, formerly of the Rays, and Manny Corpas, 29, formerly with the Rockies.

Corpas was Colorado's closer the second half of the 2007 season, going 4-2 with 19 saves and a 2.08 ERA. He did not pitch in 2011 following Tommy John surgery in September 2010. Sonnanstine was 0-2 with a 5.55 ERA in 15 appearances for Tampa Bay in 2011. His best year was 2008, when he was 13-9 with a 4.38 ERA in 32 starts.

COLLEGES

Missouri romps

James Franklin ran for 142 yards and two touchdowns and threw for another as Missouri easily beat North Carolina, 41-24, in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. Kendial Lawrence had 108 rushing yards for the Tigers (8-5), who gained 337 yards on the ground. Bryn Renner threw for 317 yards, three TDs and an interception for UNC (7-6).-- AP