BASEBALL

PERCIVAL SIGNS WITH TIGERS

Free agent Troy Percival agreed yesterday on a two-year contract with Detroit, giving the Tigers two closers for their bullpen.

Percival, 35, was 2-3 with a 2.90 ERA and 33 saves last season with the Anaheim Angels, who made no attempt to resign him. He reached 30 saves for the seventh straight season, the longest streak by an active pitcher.

On November 5, Detroit exercised a $4 million option on Ugueth Urbina, who had a 4.50 ERA and 21 saves in his first season with Detroit. He left the team after his mother was kidnapped September 1 in Venezuela.

FOOTBALL

SEAHAWKS’ SIMMONS DONE FOR YEAR

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Anthony Simmons will have season-ending surgery to repair a broken left wrist. Simmons was hurt in last weekend’s loss at St. Louis but still had seven solo tackles and forced a fumble. Simmons missed two games last month after shoulder surgery to remove a bone spur, but ranks third on the team with 42 tackles – 30 solo.

DAVIS’S SURGERY COULD END CAREER

Carolina running back Stephen Davis had microfracture surgery on his right knee, and the surgery is potentially career threatening.

Carolina put him on injured reserve last week, and he had the procedure Tuesday, which requires doctors to drill holes into the kneecap. Backup running back DeShaun Foster had the same procedure in 2002 and didn’t miss a beat, but wide receiver Patrick Jeffers had it and never played again.

SOCCER

AMERICANS END JAMAICA’S WORLD CUP HOPES

Jamaica failed to advance in World Cup qualifying, tying the United States 1-1 last night in a game the Reggae Boyz needed to win. For the Americans, the match was merely a tuneup and a chance to give several young players World Cup qualifying experience. The Americans, who got a goal from Eddie Johnson, won a spot in next year’s six-team regional finals with a 6-0 win over Panama last month.

Panama advanced to the regional finals with a 3-0 win over El Salvador yesterday. In other World Cup qualifying action yesterday, Ecuador upset Brazil 1-0 yesterday to send the World Cup champions to their first loss in qualifying for the 2006 tournament, and China was eliminated on the fifth tiebreaker despite a 7-0 victory over Hong Kong.

– Associated Press