BASEBALL

MANNY, PEDRO IFFY FOR WBC Pedro Martinez and Manny Ramirez might drop off the Dominican Republic’s team in the World Baseball Classic. Martinez, who has a toe injury, still hasn’t pitched off a mound in spring training for the Mets. He said yesterday he will definitely miss at least the first round of the tournament.

Meanwhile, Gene Orza, the no. 2 official of the players’ association, spoke in recent days with representatives for Ramirez, who was given permission by the Red Sox to report to spring training on March 1, one day after the mandatory reporting date. The Dominicans must submit their 30-man roster on March 2, five days before their opener against Venezuela.”Coming to camp on March 1 doesn’t bode well for Manny’s participation,” Orza said during a telephone conference call.

Also withdrawing from the WBC yesterday were Dominican reliever Will Cordero (Texas Rangers) and Puerto Rican infielder Jose Vidro (Washington Nationals).

GOLF

WOODS ADVANCES TO THIRD ROUND OF MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP One day after he shattered the tournament record for the shortest match, Tiger Woods had to go the distance yesterday against Robert Allenby, squeaking by with a 7-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to advance into the third round of the Match Play Championship. Woods knew that his 9-and-8 victory in the opening round against Stephen Ames meant nothing when he teed off against Allenby. That much was clear to everyone else when he bogeyed three of the first five holes.

In all, six of the top eight seeds still alive for the $1.3 million payoff Sunday. It’s the first time in the eight-year history of this tournament that so many top seeds advanced through two rounds.

Vijay Singh is among them, a minor surprise even as the no. 2 seed. He had never advanced beyond the second round in seven previous attempts, overcoming a slow start to beat Miguel Angel Jimenez. Third-seeded Retief Goosen also won, but not before Ben Crane made a hole-in-one on the 16th hole to make him sweat. Phil Mickelson missed several 5-foot putts, but he holed a 25-foot eagle putt on the 11th that sent him on his way to a victory over John Daly.The best rally came from Padraig Harrington, who birdied the last three holes to send his match into overtime, then beat Angel Cabrera with a par on the first extra hole.Also advancing yesterday were Chad Campbell, David Toms, Tom Lehman, Chris DiMarco, and Mike Weir .

FOOTBALL

FOSTER, HUTCHINSON TAGGED WITH TRANSITION LABEL The Carolina Panthers protected running back DeShaun Foster from free agency yesterday by naming him their transition player. Foster is now guaranteed $5.13 million next season if he doesn’t sign a long-term contract.Also yesterday,the Seattle Seahawks designated All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson as their transition player. Hutchinson will receive a one-year deal for the average salary of the top 10 offensive linemen from 2005, $6.39 million.

– Associated Press