Professional Sports

Forward played in six games with Hershey

ATLANTA -- Two days before opening day, the Atlanta Braves claimed infielder Ruben Gotay off waivers from the New York Mets and shipped first baseman Scott Thorman to Triple-A Richmond.

Mark Recchi scored with 6:13 left in the third period to help the Atlanta Thrashers snap a five-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over the Florida Panthers on Thursday night.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The last thing Willie Randolph wanted to see four days before the Mets' season-opener was Oliver Perez sprawled face-down on the first base line and not moving.

Forward has played 12 games in AHL this season

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- John Smoltz threw in the bullpen for about 20 minutes as if preparing for a game on Thursday and called the session his ``best day'' of the spring.

Joe Johnson scored 28 points, Josh Childress added 20 and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Milwaukee Bucks 115-96 tonight to maintain the eighth and final playoff position in the Eastern Conference.

Pospisil with goal and two assists in win

NEW YORK -- Jose Canseco says in his new book that he introduced Alex Rodriguez to a steroids distributor and that A-Rod pursued Canseco's wife, according to the Web site of freelance writer Joe Lavin.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Pittsburgh Pirates took advantage of Atlanta's surplus of right-handed relievers by acquiring Tyler Yates in a two-player trade on Wednesday.