Sports in brief

TENNIS

Ailing Roddick out in first round

An ailing Andy Roddick has been eliminated in his opening match of the Sony Ericsson Open at Key Biscayne, Fla. Roddick, the defending champion, needed three visits from a trainer in the second set and lost Saturday to Pablo Cuevas 6-4, 7-6 (4). He has struggled to shake a bronchial infection he contracted last month and plans to see a doctor when he returns home to Austin, Texas. He bent over several times after points, and at the end of the match he began limping. Roger Federer beat Radek Stepanek to match Pete Sampras with 762 career match victories. Federer needed barely an hour to eliminate Stepanek, 6-3, 6-3 to tie Sampras for seventh place in the Open era. In women's play, 2006 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova lost to Peng Shuai, 6-3, 6-1.

BASEBALL

Cubs won't keep righthander Silva

Chicago Cubs righthander Carlos Silva has been told he will not be on the team's 25-man roster when the season starts Friday. General manager Jim Hendry announced that Andrew Cashner will be the club's fifth starter, leaving Silva without a spot. Hendry said Silva would be offered a minor league assignment, but Silva said there was "no chance" he would report to Triple-A Iowa. If Silva opts to be released, the Cubs are on the hook for his $11.5 million salary this season. Silva was 1-2 with a 10.90 ERA in five appearances this spring after going 10-6 with a 4.22 ERA in 21 starts last year in his first season with the Cubs.

NHL

Sabres shut out Devils

Ryan Miller stopped 30 shots for his fifth shutout of the season in leading the Buffalo Sabres to a 2-0 victory over New Jersey that all but ended the Devils' playoff hopes. Nathan Gerbe and Thomas Vanek scored first-period goals to help the Sabres win their third straight and maintain their hold on eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Miller earned his 22nd career shutout and second in three games. Just as important, the Sabres (38-28-9) stayed at least three points up on Carolina, and stayed two points back of the Rangers.

SOCCER

Red Bulls draw with Columbus

Alex Horwath made five saves in his Major League Soccer debut and the shorthanded New York Red Bulls tied the host Columbus Crew, 0-0. The Red Bulls (1-0-1) were missing five starters to national team duties and injuries deprived them of forward Thierry Henry and goalkeeper Greg Sutton, forcing the third-string Horwath into action. Joel Lindpere nearly pulled out the win for New York in stoppage time but his low 18-yarder was denied at the near post by William Hesmer. -- AP