BASEBALL

LEITER GETS AN OUT, CALLS IT QUITS Nineteen-year veteran Al Leiter retired yesterday after pitching to one batter in the Yankees’ 2-0 exhibition win over the Cleveland Indians. Leiter, a 40-year-old left-hander with two World Series rings, had hinted about calling it a career for some time. The end became official in the seventh inning when he got Cleveland’s Eduardo Perez to ground out to third, the only batter he faced.

Time was called, and Leiter handed the ball to Yankees pitching coach Ron Guidry. Alex Rodriguez patted him on the head and he began a slow, teary walk off the field for the final time. Earlier, Leiter, a two-time All-Star who pitched a no-hitter in 1996, soaked in his last day in uniform as a major leaguer. He posed for photos with Yankees manager Joe Torre and spent about 15 minutes chatting with general manager Brian Cashman.

A native of Toms River, N.J., Leiter was a second-round draft pick by the Yankees in 1984 and made his major league debut with New York in 1987. He finishes with a record of 162-132 and a 3.80 ERA in 419 appearances (382 starts) and World Series titles with Toronto (1993) and Florida (1997). He also pitched for the Mets from 1998 to 2004, compiling a record of 95-67 with a 3.45 ERA.

RED SOX SIGN JUAN GONZALEZ Juan Gonzalez, limited to one at-bat last season, agreed to a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox yesterday. The Red Sox hope the 36-year-old, oft-injured outfielder can bounce back and show the form he displayed when he had three 140-RBI seasons.

Gonzalez was expected to join the Red Sox for Tuesday’s home game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He has 434 homers, 1,404 RBI, and a .295 batting average in 17 major league seasons. Gonzalez, whose torn hamstring ruined his 2005 season, spent his first 11 seasons with Texas and hit at least 39 homers six times. He moved to Detroit in 2000 and hit 22 homers with 67 RBI in 115 games.

GOLF

PAMPLING TAKES BAYHILL INVITATIONAL AS OWEN COLLAPSES Rod Pampling thought he had thrown away the Bay Hill Invitational, but Greg Owen gave it right back yesterday by missing two putts inside 3 feet that could haunt him for some time.

Pampling closed with an even-par 72 for a one-shot victory over Owen, a trophy presentation that seemed likely when the 36-year-old Australian started the final round with a four-shot lead. But the final two holes made for a bizarre turnaround that left Owen in shock.

Trying to win his first PGA Tour event, Owen took the lead by getting up-and-down from the bunker on the par-5 16th for a one-shot lead. And when Pampling failed to make par on the 17th, the tournament appeared to be over – Owen was ahead by two shots and faced a 3-foot par putt. But he pushed the putt so badly that it never touched the hole, then quickly went to the other side of the cup to rap in the 2-footer, only to see that dip in and out of the cup. Just like that, he was tied for the lead. If that wasn’t cruel enough, Owen hit a remarkable shot from the bunker with his feet above the ball to 12 feet, needing that par putt to force a playoff. Instead, the ball lipped out for a bogey to give him a 69 and leave him alone in second place.

Darren Clarke settled for a 2-under 70 and finished third. Tiger Woods shot an even-par 72 on the day and finished the tournament tied for 20th at 4-under.

SPEED SKATING

DAVIS BREAKS HEDRICK’S 1,500M WORLD RECORD Olympic silver medalist Shani Davis set a world record in the men’s 1,500 meters yesterday at the ISU world all-around speedskating championships. Davis finished in 1 minute, 42.68 seconds, breaking the mark of 1:42.78 set in 2005 by American teammate and rival Chad Hedrick, with whom Davis feuded publicly at the Turin Games. Hedrick, who was paired with Davis in yesterday’s race, finished second in 1:42.85. Canada’s Denny Morrison was third in 1:42.97.

– Associated Press