BASEBALL

RIVERA TO RETURN FOR GAME 1 OF ALCS

Yankees closer Mariano Rivera said he plans to return from a family funeral in Panama in time for Game 1 of the AL championship series tonight against Boston. Rivera flew home to comfort relatives after two members of his wife’s family were electrocuted in his pool.

Early today, Rivera will attend the funeral of Victor Dario Avila, a cousin of Rivera’s wife, Clara, and Avila’s 14-year-old son. The father was electrocuted when he tried to save his son, also named Victor, while cleaning the pool at the pitcher’s home, officials said. Rivera said he had grown up with the elder Avila, and that his son was “part of the family.”

VENTURA ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

Robin Ventura retired in a fashion fitting the way he played and behaved during a fine 16-year career – quietly, with dignity and little fanfare. Ventura made the announcement after the Los Angeles Dodgers lost to St. Louis 6-2 Sunday, eliminating them from the NL playoffs.

Ventura, 37, played nine years with the White Sox, two with the Mets, and 2 1 /2 with the Yankees before finishing up with 1 1 /2 seasons in Los Angeles. Ventura had his best year with the Mets in 1999, hitting .301 with 32 homers and 120 RBI.

He leaves with 294 home runs, 1,182 RBI, and a .267 career batting average. His 18 grand slams are tied with Willie McCovey for the third-most in baseball history, behind only Lou Gehrig (23) and Eddie Murray (19). Ventura also won six Gold Gloves at third base.

FOOTBALL

CARTER MAY MISS REST OF SEASON

Tim Carter, the Giants’ best deep-threat receiver, might miss the rest of the season with a hip injury.

The team may put Carter on injured reserve, although it is not clear if the third year pro will need surgery for a possible fracture in the hip area, head coach Tom Coughlin said. Coughlin believed the injury happened when Carter and a defender went sprawling after a ball in the end zone during the Giants’ win Sunday at Dallas. Rookie Jamaar Taylor, a sixth-round draft pick from Texas A&M, is getting “strong consideration” to replace Carter, Coughlin said.

FOSTER OUT WITH BROKEN COLLARBONE

Carolina’s DeShaun Foster will be out six to 10 weeks after breaking his collarbone Sunday against Denver. With starter Stephen Davis is still recovering from knee surgery and third-stringer Rod Smart also nursing a knee injury, Carolina is down to its last running option, Nick Goings.

TENNIS

HENIN-HARDENNE ENDS SE ASON EARLY

Olympic champion Justine Henin-Hardenne ended her season yesterday, saying she was exhausted after two years of a relentless effort to become the WTA Tour’s top-ranked player.

She said an energy-sapping virus that weakened her since April was a symptom of a more general malaise caused by her pursuit of titles and the no. 1 ranking.

MAURESMO BOWS OUT OF KREMLIN OPEN

Top-ranked Amelie Mauresmo of France withdrew from the Kremlin Cup yesterday, a day after a thigh injury forced her to quit during a final in Germany against Lindsay Davenport.

Davenport will be looking for her eighth title this season. The second-seeded Californian trails Mauresmo by 15 points in the WTA Tour rankings. Davenport has a first-round bye in Moscow; a second-round victory will push her to no. 1 next week.

SWIMMING

RECORDS FALL AT SHORT COURSE WORLDS

Aaron Peirsol lowered his own world record in the 200-meter backstroke yesterday, then helped his American teammates set a world mark in the 400 medley relay on closing night of the Short Course World Championships. The United States won five of 12 finals last night, giving the Americans 21 victories in 40 events.

– Associated Press