Gunmen Kidnap Urbina’s Mother

Armed Venezuelan gunmen kidnapped the mother of major-league pitcher Ugueth Urbina after breaking into the family’s home near Caracas, Venezuela, police said Thursday.

The gang forced its way Wednesday into the home of Urbina, a relief pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, stole $520 and took his mother, Maura Villareal, and a man from the house, said police spokesman Joel Rengifo.

Police said there had been no contact with the gunmen.

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Chicago Cub reliever Kent Mercker and Houston Astro right-hander Dan Wheeler were each suspended for three games and Astro Manager Phil Garner was suspended for one game after a series of incidents in a series last weekend at Wrigley Field.

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Toronto right-hander Josh Towers will miss his scheduled start Sunday because of a strained shoulder.

Hockey

Alex Kovalev scored the winning goal and goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov had 20 saves for Russia, which defeated the United States, 3-1, in a World Cup of Hockey match at St. Paul, Minn. Bryzgalov has signed with the Mighty Ducks.

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Miikka Kiprusoff earned his second shutout for Finland, which blanked Germany, 3-0, in a World Cup of Hockey match at Cologne, Germany.

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NHL owners and the NHL Players’ Assn. were no closer to a new collective bargaining agreement after completing three days of meetings in Montreal.

The sides finished with a two-hour meeting that completed a review of the business practices of the league’s 30 teams individually. The agreement expires Sept. 15. No new meetings were scheduled.

Golf

Christina Kim made 11 birdies and tied the tournament record of 10-under-par 62 for a two-shot lead after the opening round of the LPGA State Farm Classic at Springfield, Ill.

Kim matched the record shared by Laura Davies (1991) and Kathryn Marshall (1997). Rookie Mikaela Parmlid of Sweden shot a career-best eight-under 64 and was alone in second. 65.

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Miguel Angel Jimenez shot a six-under 65 for the first-round lead at the European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland. Jimenez had a one-stroke lead over Sergio Garcia, Marc Farry, Peter Baker and Peter Hedblom.

WNBA

Demya Walker made a layup in the closing seconds to lead the Sacramento Monarchs to a 66-64 home victory over the San Antonio Silver Stars.

Crystal Robinson scored 16 points to lead the New York Liberty past the Charlotte Sting, 56-52, in New York.

Miscellany

Hurricane Frances forced the postponement of Saturday’s college football game between Florida and Middle Tennessee State and Monday’s game between Florida State and Miami.

Florida’s game has been rescheduled for Oct. 16. The Florida State-Miami game will be played Sept. 10.

In baseball, the Florida Marlins postponed today’s game against the Chicago Cubs.

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Jockey Jerry Bailey, seven-time Eclipse Award winner, suffered a hairline fracture of his left wrist in a fall at his Florida home and will be out for at least three to four weeks. Bailey was injured while he was helping evacuate his family in anticipation of Hurricane Frances.

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Neil Horan, the former priest from Ireland who sabotaged the men’s Olympic marathon by tackling the race leader, was ordered to stand trial in Britain on two counts of indecency with a child, offenses that are said to have taken place between September 1990 and April 1993. Horan has denied the charges.

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Jack Smitheran, 61, resigned as baseball coach at UC Riverside after 31 years with the program. Smitheran went 974-709-3 at Riverside. He will be replaced by assistant Doug Smith.

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Afshin Ghotbi has joined new Galaxy Coach Steve Sampson’s staff and will join assistants Ignacio Hernandez and Martin Vasquez.

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MetroStar midfielder Amado Guevara was fined $2,000 by MLS for arguing calls during a 1-1 tie Sunday with Columbus.

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Former NBA player Earl Cureton was hired as coach of the American Basketball Assn.’s Orange County Crush. He guided the Long Beach Jam to the league championship last season. Long Beach named assistant Corey Gaines to replace Cureton. The Crush also named former NBA guard Norm Nixon as a special assistant.

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The woman who accused Charles Barkley of groping her at a Philadelphia nightclub withdrew her police complaint.