BASEBALL

INJURY LIKELY TO KEEP BECKETT OUT OF GAMES IN TOKYO

Time is running out on Josh Beckett’s slim chance of traveling to Tokyo to pitch in Boston’s first two regular-season games. The Red Sox ace who led the majors with 20 wins last year has yet to pitch in a regular exhibition game, and his back injury might keep him from doing that. Plus, sitting on a plane for the long flight to Japan next Wednesday wouldn’t be very comfortable.

WANG REBOUNDS FROM POOR START, A-ROD HOMERS

Chien-Ming Wang pitched shutout ball into the fourth inning, Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run homer and the Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-1 yesterday. Wang, the expected opening-day starter, rebounded from a dismal start against Cincinnati last Thursday when he gave up six runs and six hits in two-thirds of an inning.

GOLF

SWING COACH DUMPS DALY BECAUSE OF ‘SHENANIGANS’

John Daly has been cut loose by swing coach Butch Harmon, who said yesterday he was not going to waste his time with a two-time major champion who is more interested in drinking than working on his golf game.

“My whole goal for him was he’s got to show me golf is the most important thing in his life,” Harmon said. “And the most important thing in his life is getting drunk.” Harmon said he has worked three times this year with Daly, but he said Daly’s behavior at the PODS Championship was enough to end the short-lived relationship. Daly spent a 2 1/2 -hour rain delay during the first round in a Hooters corporate tent behind the 17th green. When play resumed, he had Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden caddie for him the rest of the day.