Matsui goes from Rockies to Astros

Second baseman Kaz Matsui finalized a $16.5-million, three-year contract with the Houston Astros on Sunday, a little more than a month after helping the Colorado Rockies to their first World Series appearance.

The 32-year-old switch-hitter batted .288 last season with four home runs and 37 runs batted in, stealing 32 bases and scoring 84 runs -- his best totals in the majors. Houston stole only 65 bases this year, the third lowest in the National League.

General Manager Ed Wade said Matsui probably will bat second, behind speedy center fielder Michael Bourn, acquired last month from Philadelphia.

WINTER SPORTS

Albrecht wins slalom; Miller falls during run

Daniel Albrecht of Switzerland won a World Cup giant slalom in Beaver Creek, Colo., for his second victory in four days.

Albrecht, 11th after the opening leg, delivered a stunning second run to complete the Birds Of Prey course in a combined time of 2 minutes 24.30 seconds, only .05 ahead of Austrian Mario Matt. Didier Cuche of Switzerland was .11 back in third.

Olympic combined champion Ted Ligety tied for fourth with Massimiliano Blardone, missing the podium by only .04.

Bode Miller, who won the giant slalom here two years ago, went down on his hip on a turn 45 seconds into his opening leg. Miller hiked up to re-ski the gate but finished more than 10 seconds off the pace.

Martina Schild of Switzerland won the season-opening women’s super-giant slalom in 1:16.21 in Lake Louise, Canada, for her first World Cup victory.

Germany’s Maria Riesch was second in 1:16.41. Sweden’s Jessica Lindell-Vikarby was third, collecting her first podium finish in 1:16:43.

Lindsey Vonn, who won Saturday’s downhill, fell, hit a gate and slid into the fencing. Vonn -- formerly Kildow -- said she was sore and bruised but not seriously injured.

GOLF

Immelman holds off Rose in South Africa

Trevor Immelman shot an even-par 72 and won the Nedbank Challenge by one stroke despite three straight bogeys over the closing holes and a late challenge from Justin Rose in Sun City, South Africa.

Immelman finished at 16-under 272. Rose shot 73 after a double-bogey on the 18th. Ernie Els (72) was third at 11 under in the tournament he has won three times.

Frank Lickliter II shot a four-under 68 to take a five-stroke lead after the fifth of six rounds in the PGA Tour National Qualifying Tournament at Winter Garden, Fla.

Lickliter, a two-time winner on the tour, had a 28-under 264 total. Brett Rumford (68) was second and Chris Stroud (64) was third at 22 under.

Former UCLA star Jane Park completed a wire-to-wire victory in the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament at Daytona Beach, Fla., topping the 17 players who earned full 2008 playing status.

Park had a 17-under 274. Su A Kim (66) was second, followed by Hee Young Park (70) at 10 under.

MISCELLANY

Pumas reaches finals in Mexican soccer

Pumas lost to Santos Laguna, 4-2, at Mexico City but won, 5-4, on aggregate to reach the Mexican Apertura finals against Atlante.

It will be Pumas’ first finals since 2004, when they achieved consecutive championships.

Carlos Gonzalez and Ignacio Scocco scored for Pumas.

In the other semifinal, Giancarlo Maldonado’s goal allowed Atlante to beat Guadalajara, 1-0, on Saturday at Cancun. The series ended, 1-1, and Atlante advanced based on its higher seeding for the playoffs.

The schedule for the finals will be released today.

James Blake defeated Dmitry Tursunov, 1-6, 6-3, 7-5, and the U.S. wrapped up a 4-1 Davis Cup victory over Russia in Portland, Ore.

Igor Andreev gave Russia its only win in the final by defeating Bob Bryan, 6-3, 7-6 (4), earlier in the day, after U.S. had had already clinched the title Saturday for the first time since 1995.

PASSINGS

McGregor, Australian Open champion, 78

Ken McGregor, the 1952 Australian Open champion who teamed with Frank Sedgman for a Grand Slam doubles sweep, has died after a short illness in Adealaide, Australia. He was 78.

McGregor, who died Saturday, had a history of heart problems and was diagnosed with stomach cancer less than two weeks ago, his family said.