BASEBALL

MEXICO OUSTS AMERICA FROM WORLD CLASSIC Roger Clemens was a loser in what might have been the final start of his outstanding career, and Mexico eliminated Team USA from the World Baseball Classic.

Oliver Perez and seven relievers combined to pitch a three-hitter last night as Mexico beat the Rocket and the Americans 2-1, giving Japan another shot at Korea in the WBC semifinals. South Korea had a 3-0 second-round record in Group One, with Team USA, Japan, and Mexico all going 1-2. Japan earned the second semifinal berth from the group by allowing the fewest runs in games between the tied teams.

Clemens, who has won 341 games and struck out 4,502 batters in his big league career, has said he’s leaning toward retirement after the Classic. He wasn’t at his best against Mexico, allowing six hits and two runs in 4 1/3 innings with no walks and four strikeouts. He threw 73 pitches – seven below the maximum for the second round.

Perez allowed only one hit in three scoreless innings, and the Mexican bullpen later retired 12 straight batters until Chipper Jones drew a one-out walk off Jorge De La Rosa in the ninth. Luis Ayala then walked Alex Rodriguez, but David Cortes needed only one pitch, getting Vernon Wells to ground into a game-ending double play.

BLUE JAYS INK HALLADAY TO THREE-YEAR EXTENSION Toronto pitcher Roy Halladay signed a $40 million, three-year contract extension yesterday, the latest in a series of big-money moves for the Blue Jays. The deal could keep the 2003 AL Cy Young winner with the Blue Jays through the 2010 season. The 28-year-old righty was 12-4 with a 2.41 ERA in 19 starts last year when his left leg was broken on July 8 by a line drive. Halladay is 79-40 lifetime with a 3.70 ERA.

HOCKEY

RANGERS SNAP SIX-GAME SKID WITH WIN OVER CAPITALS Jaromir Jagr snapped a third-period tie with his NHL-leading 45th goal and the Rangers ended a six-game losing streak by outlasting the lowly Washington Capitals, 5-4 last night.

Jagr, who also assisted on Petr Sykora’s second-period goal, used his backhand to steer around defenseman Shaone Morrisonn, switched the puck to his forehand, and slid a shot around Olie Kolzig to make it 5-4 at 7:08 while the teams were skating 4-on-4.That was enough to end the Rangers’ longest losing streak of the season and put New York back on top of the Atlantic Division – two points ahead of Philadelphia.

GOLF

BRYANT TAKES EARLY LEAD AT BAYHILL INVITATIONAL Bart Bryant surged to the top of a crowded leaderboard with 6-under 66 yesterday in the Bay Hill Invitational in Orlando, Fla., sharing the lead with Dean Wilson. Bryant used a 3-iron into 12 feet for eagle on the 16th hole and a string of good iron shots.

Ernie Els wound up with a 67, conquering the par-5 sixth hole with a 3-wood over the water and a bending, 50-foot eagle putt on the sixth. He was joined by former British Open champion Ben Curtis, former Bay Hill winner Chad Campbell, Lucas Glover, and Jason Gore. Tiger Woods was poised to join them, despite not feeling the least bit comfortable over his tee shots, approaches to the green or his putting. He was at 4-under until back-to-back bogeys put him at 70.

FOOTBALL

EAGLES SIGN GARCIA, GAFFNEY The Philadelphia Eagles signed veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia yesterday, giving Donovan McNabb a capable and experienced backup he lacked last season. The Eagles also signed wide receiver Jabar Gaffney. Both he and Garcia signed one-year deals.

A three-time Pro Bowl selection during his five seasons in San Francisco, the 36-year-old Garcia played for Cleveland in 2004 before going to the Lions last year. He threw for 937 yards, three touchdowns, and six interceptions in six games with Detroit.

Gaffney, 25, caught 55 passes for 492 yards and two scores last season for Houston.

– Associated Press