Sports in brief
BASEBALLLidge gets cortisone shot
Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge received a cortisone shot in his surgically repaired right elbow to "jump start" his preparation for the regular season. The reliever had surgery on his elbow in November and on his and right knee and likely won't be ready to pitch until mid-April at the earliest. He had the injection Tuesday after pitching in a minor league game.
Houston first baseman Lance Berkman was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a nagging left knee injury. Berkman had arthroscopic surgery on March 13 after the knee swelled in the first days of spring training . . . Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler is expecting to open the season on the disabled list because of an ankle sprain. Kinsler says there is no timetable for his return.
TENNIS
Henin beats Wozniacki
Justine Henin advanced to the semifinals of the Sony Ericsson Open at Key Biscayne by beating No. 2-seeded Caroline Wozniacki 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4. Henin lost only two of 22 service points in the final set yesterday, closing out the 2-hour, 45-minute match with a love game. The victory sets up a Belgian semifinal today after Kim Clijsters defeated Samantha Stosur 6-3, 7-5 last night.
Andy Roddick advanced to the men's semifinals when he beat No. 33-seeded Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 6-3. Roddick committed only 10 unforced errors. He has yet to lose a set. The quarterfinals went without No. 1-ranked Roger Federer, who lost to No. 16-seeded Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (6) in a fourth-round match that ended at 12:16 a.m. yesterday.
LeBron James said that he's "probably not playing" for Team USA this summer in the world championships in Turkey. James, who was a captain on the U.S. team that won a gold medal at the Beijing Games in 2008, is eligible for free agency after the season and is scheduled to film a movie.
HORSE RACING
Eskendereya Wood favorite
Eskendereya has been made the 4-5 favorite for Saturday's Wood Memorial at Aqueduct R, a prep race before the Kentucky Derby. A field of six 3-year-olds was entered Wednesday for the 1 1/8-mile race that carries a purse of $750,000. Eskendereya comes into the Wood off a victory in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Florida's Gulfstream Park on Feb. 20. The colt is one of several Derby hopefuls trained by Todd Pletcher. - AP
