Hershiser Decides It’s Best to Stay a Ranger

Orel Hershiser resigned as pitching coach of the Texas Rangers on Friday to become the team’s executive director, apparently ending Hershiser’s rumored candidacy for the Dodgers’ vacant managerial spot.

Hershiser moves into the front office almost a month after then-Dodger general manager Paul DePodesta said the Rangers had given him permission to speak with the former Dodger pitcher about replacing Jim Tracy.

Hershiser, 47, joined the Rangers before the 2002 season as a special assistant to former general manager John Hart. He became the team’s pitching coach in 2003 when Buck Showalter became manager.

“When I became the pitching coach of the Rangers three years ago, I knew I was not going to be in that position for the long term,” Hershiser said in a statement.

Dodger General Manager Ned Colletti is scheduled to interview managerial candidate Jim Fregosi in the Tampa area today, with front-office executives Kim Ng, Roy Smith and Logan White sitting in on the meeting.

Terry Collins, the front-runner to become manager before DePodesta was fired, is expected to meet one-on-one with Colletti before Fregosi interviews. Collins is the Dodger farm director.

Erick Aybar and Howie Kendrick, two of the Angels’ top middle-infield prospects, were among the seven players added to the Angels’ 40-man roster, promotions that assure the players won’t be exposed to the Rule 5 draft at December’s winter meetings.

Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones has agreed to restructure his contract, reducing his salary by $6 million next season, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Under the deal, his salary would go from $17 million to $11 million and could save the Braves about $15 million over three seasons.

The San Diego Padres acquired outfielder Mike Cameron from the New York Mets for utility player Xavier Nady.

PRO FOOTBALL

Owens Decision Expected Soon

Terrell Owens might be closer to returning to the field this season, even though the Philadelphia Eagles still don’t want him back.

Arbitrator Richard Bloch did not issue a ruling after the 13-hour arbitration hearing in Philadelphia.

Richard Berthelsen, general counsel of the NFL Players’ Assn., said a decision is expected by Tuesday and expressed optimism that Owens would not have to sit out the remainder of the season.

GOLF

Woods Is One Shot Behind Leader Furyk

Defending champion Tiger Woods is finding the competition tougher at the Dunlop Phoenix in Miyazaki, Japan. Woods, who won by eight shots last year, shot a three-under-par 67 to pull to within one of leader Jim Furyk after two rounds.

Furyk had the day’s best score, a 64 that featured seven birdies and a bogey to move into the lead alone at nine-under 131. Woods shares second with David Duval, who led after the opening round and shot a 68.

Annika Sorenstam made two eagles on her way to a two-under 70, giving her a two-shot lead over Hee-Won Han at the season-ending ADT Championship at West Palm Beach, Fla. She is at five-under 139.

Cristie Kerr, who lost in a playoff to Sorenstam last year by double-bogeying the 18th hole, shot a 66 and is tied for third, with Michele Redman (73) three shots behind.

England, Sweden and Wales shared the lead after the second round of the World Cup at Vilamoura, Portugal, at 16-under 128.

Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez and Angel Cabrera set a World Cup record by shooting a 61. The previous low round in foursomes in the World Cup was 62, set by Vijay Singh and Dinesh Chand of Fiji in 2002.

The U.S. team of Zach Johnson and Stewart Cink is seven shots behind the leaders.

Joe Ozaki shot a one-over 73 to take a two-stroke lead over six players after the third round of the Champions Tour qualifying tournament at the PGA of Southern California Golf Club course in Beaumont. He is at even-par 216.

TENNIS

Gaudio Earns Semifinal Berth Against Federer

Gaston Gaudio saved three match points before beating Fernando Gonzalez, 1-6, 7-5, 7-5, to advance to the semifinals against top-ranked Roger Federer at the Masters Cup in Shanghai.

The 2004 French Open winner was a set and a break down to Gonzalez -- called back from vacation to play in the tournament when Andre Agassi withdrew -- serving for the match at 5-3.

BOXING

Mayweather Fights Mitchell Tonight

Floyd Mayweather Jr. wanted to fight Oscar De La Hoya, but couldn’t get a deal done. Same thing with Zab Judah, Shane Mosley and Winky Wright.

Instead, Mayweather, the World Boxing Council champion at 140 pounds, will be making his welterweight (147-pound) debut against Sharmba Mitchell tonight at Portland, Ore.

The WBC has selected James Toney and Oleg Maskaev as official challengers to interim heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman, who was given the title after Vitali Klitschko retired because of injuries.

The late Jim Murray, The Times’ Pulitzer Prize-winning sports columnist, and former world featherweight champion Danny “Little Red” Lopez will be among those inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame at a luncheon today at the Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City.

Besides Lopez, other boxers to be inducted are Andy “Kid” Heilman, Lonnie Bennett, Lou Filippo, Alvaro “Yaqui” Lopez and the late L.C. Morgan. Other inductees include promoters Dan Goossen and Ken Thompson, trainer Joe Goossen, former state commission executive Joe Olmos and referee Marty Denkin. Details: (818) 761-4887.

HORSE RACING

Rock Hard Ten Is Retired From Racing

Rock Hard Ten, the winner of the 2005 Santa Anita Handicap, has been retired because of a cartilage problem in his left front leg.

The 4-year-old was scheduled to compete in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 29 at Belmont Park, but was scratched the day before the Grade I because of a bruised foot. He finishes his career with seven wins in 11 starts.

Besides the Goodwood and Santa Anita Handicap, he won the 2005 Strub and last year’s Malibu Stakes, all at Santa Anita.

-- Bob Mieszerski

Gary Birzer, the jockey who was left paralyzed from the waist down after a spill in 2004, has filed a $10-million lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles against the Jockeys’ Guild, former guild president L. Wayne Gertmenian and another former guild officer. Birzer thought he was insured for $1 million, but the guild had allowed the policy to lapse.

MISCELLANY

Keane Decides to Leave Manchester United

Midfielder Roy Keane left Manchester United, two weeks after lambasting his teammates.

Keane was captain of the team that dominated English soccer throughout the 1990s. His contract was canceled by mutual consent, United said in a statement on its website.

NASCAR’s season-ending truck race, the Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, was postponed Friday night because of rain.

It will be run this morning, weather permitting.