BASEBALL

Santana Wins Second AL Cy Young Award

Johan Santana swept the Cy Young ballot the same way he buzzed through batters all season.

Santana won the AL Cy Young Award on Thursday for the second time in three years, and the Minnesota Twins’ ace was a unanimous choice once again.

“This year, I wouldn’t say it was easier, but you definitely have a better idea where you are,” he said. “I definitely feel more comfortable.”

Santana received all 28 first-place votes for a perfect total of 140 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Chien-Ming Wang of the New York Yankees finished a distant second with 15 second-place votes and 51 points. Toronto’s Roy Halladay was third with 48 points.

“This was not such a big surprise as in 2004,” Santana said at a news conference at home in Venezuela.

Athletics Hire Geren As Manager

Bob Geren will be promoted from bench coach to manager of the Oakland Athletics, according to a highranking baseball official.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the team won’t introduce Geren as its new manager until Friday. He fills the final managerial vacancy in the major leagues this offseason, one month after the A’s fired Ken Macha.

General manager Billy Beane went with the most experience and the familiar face, his longtime friend and former high school baseball opponent in San Diego.

General manager Billy Beane went with the most experience and the familiar face, his longtime friend and former high school baseball opponent in San Diego.

Tigers Sign Sean Casey To One-Year Contract

First baseman Sean Casey is staying with the AL champion Detroit Tigers, agreeing to a $4 million, one-year contract yesterday.

Acquired from Pittsburgh last season, Casey was a hitting star in the World Series. He batted .529 with two home runs and five RBI against the St. Louis Cardinals, but Detroit lost in five games.

TENNIS

Roddick Out; Federer, Nalbandian Into Masters Cup Semifinals

Missing a chance to knock off Roger Federer took a heavy toll on Andy Roddick.

Two days after coming within one serve of upsetting Federer, Roddick was eliminated from the season-ending Masters Cup yesterday by defending champion David Nalbandian 6–2, 7–6 (4).

Top-ranked Federer later beat Ivan Ljubicic 7–6 (2), 6–4, helping Nalbandian advance to the semifinals in the round-robin event. Federer, who extended his winning streak to 27 matches, is seeking his third Masters Cup title.

— Associated Press