SOCCER

METROSTARS RALLY TO TOP FC DALLAS

Sergio Galvan Rey snapped a 2-2 tie in the 74th minute off a pass from Ante Razov as the MetroStars came from behind for a 3-2 win over FC Dallas last night at Giants Stadium.

The win snapped a two game skid for the MetroStars (7-6-7) and extended the team’s unbeaten streak at home to seven games. FC Dallas, which leads the Western Conference of Major League Soccer, fell to 10-5-4 overall.

Tony Meola had six saves in his 90th career victory and his first since returning to the MetroStars last month.

BASEBALL

SELIG REJECTS APPEAL BY ROGERS

Texas Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers’s appeal of his 20-game suspension for shoving two cameramen was rejected yesterday by Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, who deemed Rogers’s behavior to be “wholly unacceptable.” The players’ association said it will pursue a grievance before an arbitrator to overturn the penalty. The commissioner, who heard the appeal by Rogers in Milwaukee last week, said the suspension would begin with last night’s game in Baltimore.

CLEMENT RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL

Boston pitcher Matt Clement was released from a hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla., yesterday, less than 24 hours after being hit in the side of the head by a line drive that knocked him off his feet.

Red Sox medical director Dr. Thomas Gill said the 30-year-old All-Star would accompany the team back to Boston after the game and be evaluated there by the team’s medical staff. Clement was carted from the field after Carl Crawford’s liner struck him in the right side of the head, just behind the ear, in the third inning Tuesday night. The pitcher never lost consciousness and did not sustain a concussion, manager Terry Francona said.

Also yesterday, Red Sox right fielder Trot Nixon was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained muscle in his side, and the team recalled left-handed pitcher Lenny Di-Nardo from Triple-A Pawtucket.

HOCKEY

NHL SCHEDULE TO START WITH BUSIEST NIGHT EVER

The NHL will return to the ice with the busiest night in the league’s 88-year history. The league has scheduled 15 games – including all 30 clubs – on opening night October 5. The record for games in a day is currently 14, done nine times but not since 2003.The schedule, released yesterday, features more divisional games as teams will play their rivals eight times instead of six. The Rangers open the season at Philadelphia, the Devils will host Pittsburgh, and the Islanders open at Buffalo.

FOOTBALL

PANTHERS ACQUIRE GARDNER FROM REDSKINS

The Carolina Panthers acquried wide receiver Rod Gardner from the Washington Redskins in a trade yesterday. Carolina did not say what it traded for Gardner. Gardner, 27, started all 16 games in each of his four seasons in Washington, making 227 receptions for 2,997 yards and 22 touchdowns.

– Associated Press