GOLDEN MOMENT FOR THE U.S. Rodriguez’s progress encourages Yankees

Alex Rodriguez will report today to the New York Yankees’ spring training complex in Tampa, Fla., to continue his rehabilitation from right hip surgery. Rodriguez had surgery March 9 in Vail, Colo., to remove an impingement in the joint and drain a cyst in the hip.

“I’m very encouraged,” Yankees Manager Joe Girardi said before Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Royals. “To have a labrum surgery and be doing what he is doing already is very encouraging.”

He said Rodriguez would stretch, do agility work and light jogging, take some grounders, hit off a tee and take soft toss swings.

“He has long days,” Girardi said. “It is not like normal spring training where you show up for a couple of hours and you go home.”

Rodriguez batted .302 with an American League-leading .573 slugging percentage last season. The three-time most valuable player is expected to return to the lineup in May.

Arizona Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb is headed to the 15-day disabled list because of tightness in his pitching shoulder. The team made the move, retroactive to Tuesday, after Webb tested his shoulder by playing catch on Sunday morning.

The Tampa Bay Rays made room for center fielder B.J. Upton to rejoin the team by optioning outfielder Matt Joyce to triple-A Durham (N.C.). Upton is expected to be activated from the 15-day disabled list for today’s home opener against the Yankees. He was put on the disabled list on April 5, retroactive to March 27, after undergoing off-season surgery on his left shoulder.

The Chicago Cubs got some welcome good news on the ailing right shoulder of catcher Geovany Soto, and now expect him to return to the lineup Wednesday.

The San Francisco Giants signed former Angels infielder Dallas McPherson to a minor league contract.

Atlanta Braves left-hander Tom Glavine ended his minor league start with double-A Mississippi early after experiencing shoulder discomfort.

The 43-year-old Glavine had expected to throw 50 to 60 pitches but left after only 36 in two innings. He gave up three hits, including a solo home run, with one walk and no strikeouts against Carolina.

TENNIS

Hewitt wins title in Houston

Lleyton Hewitt of Australia held on to win his first tournament in two years with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Wayne Odesnik of the U.S. in the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships at Houston.

Hewitt won the 498th match of his career and moved closer to joining Roger Federer and Carlos Moya as the only active players with 500 or more victories.

Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki defeated Canada’s Aleksandra Wozniak, 6-1, 6-2, to win the MPS Group Championships at Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

ETC.

U.S. captures hockey title

The United States won its second straight women’s World Hockey Championship title, beating Canada, 4-1, at Hameenlinna, Finland, behind defenseman Caitlin Cahow’s two goals.

Goaltender Jessie Vetter made 39 saves and the U.S. played a penalty-free game to secure its third title in the last four world championships.

The Americans moved ahead of Canada in the IIHF women’s world rankings for the first time since they were introduced in 2004. It is also the first time the U.S. defeated Canada in consecutive finals at the women’s worlds.

North Carolina freshman forward Ed Davis says he will return to the team for the 2009-10 season. Davis averaged 8.2 points and 5.5 rebounds in North Carolina’s six NCAA tournament wins, and had 11 points and eight rebounds in the championship game victory over Michigan State.