Morneau wins the AL MVP award

In June, Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau walked into Manager Ron Gardenhire’s office with a .236 batting average and was benched. Though he didn’t realize it at the time, he walked out a most valuable player.

“It woke me up,” Morneau said Tuesday after beating out Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees for the American League’s Most Valuable Player award. “He lit a fire under me.”

Morneau received 15 first-place votes, eight seconds, three thirds and two fourths for 320 points in voting by a panel of the Baseball Writers’ Assn. of America. Jeter got 12 firsts and 306 points.

Morneau finished with a .321 average, 34 home runs and 130 runs batted in, and helped the Twins win the AL Central for the fourth time in five years.

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The Dodgers fired trainer Matt Wilson and assistant trainer Jason Mahnke, the latest moves in an overhaul of the training and medical staffs that began with the hiring of Stan Conte as director of medical services and head athletic trainer.

-- Steve Henson

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Free-agent outfielder Frank Catalanotto finalized a $13-million, three-year contract with the Texas Rangers.... Pitcher Jeff Francis and the Colorado Rockies are nearing completion on a four-year contract worth about $13 million.

JURISPRUDENCE

Trial date is set in Francis shooting case

A trial date has been set for June 11 in the shooting death of USC basketball player Ryan Francis, who was slain in May while riding in a car in his hometown of Baton Rouge, La.

DeAnthony Norman Ford of Baton Rouge faces a mandatory sentence of life without parole if convicted of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.

-- Ben Bolch

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Prosecutors in the Dominican Republic say they’ve seen no proof that Chicago White Sox shortstop Juan Uribe had anything to do with the shooting of two men, and they will not pursue charges if no evidence is presented within 10 days at Santo Domingo.

Uribe, his brother and a friend were questioned and released after the Oct. 13 shooting that wounded a Dominican farmer and a captain.

MISCELLANY

Irons wins opening contest in Hawaii surfing

Kauai’s Andy Irons took the first step toward defending his Vans Triple Crown of Surfing title by winning the opening contest, the OP Pro Hawaii at Haleiwa on Oahu’s North Shore.

Peru’s Sofia Mulanovich, ranked No. 4 in the world, won the women’s portion of the OP Pro Hawaii.

-- Pete Thomas

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The United States plays Mexico and Canada plays Jamaica in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup at the Home Depot Center.

The winners of the match advance to the finals and also earn a berth in the 2007 Women’s World Cup. Canada-Jamaica starts at 4:30 p.m., with the U.S.-Mexico match scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

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Jim Furyk shot a five-under-par 67 for a one-stroke lead over U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy after the opening round of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf at Poipu Beach, Hawaii. Defending champion Tiger Woods struggled off the tee and scrambled to a 70. Mike Weir shot a 71.

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The Committee on the Future of Racing in New York selected Excelsior Racing Associates, a group that includes Steve Swindal, the son-in-law of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, to be the next operator of the state’s three major thoroughbred racetracks -- Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga. The state legislature will make a final decision, probably next year.

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Del Mar has selected Polytrack as its new main track surface for 2007.

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The cost of the 2012 London Games has increased by more than a third because of steel prices and security concerns, Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said.... Brazil defeated Australia and the U.S. lost to Italy in the men’s volleyball world championships at Fukuoka, Japan.