Ken Klee

BaseballBoston Red Sox -- Signed a two-year player development contract with Utica of the New York-Penn League.Houston Astros -- Announced they have moved their Single-A affiliate from Burlington, Iowa, to Quad City in the Midwest League and have agreed to a two-year player development agreement with Quad City.Seattle Mariners -- Signed a two-year player development contract with Single-A Appleton, Wis.BasketballGolden State Warriors -- Signed C Matt Fish to a one-year contract.Houston Rockets -- Signed F David Wood.

Auto racingFormula One -- Expanded this year's schedule to 17 by returning TC the Hungarian Grand Prix to the list for Aug. 13.BaseballChicago Cubs -- Released P Zak Krislock, P Edwin Morales, P Randy O'Neal, P Tad Powers and P Preston Watson.Cleveland Indians -- Added OF Carmelo Martinez to their roster. Released P Jim Chrisman and P Dennis Wiseman. Named Dan Williams assistant bullpen coach.New York Mets -- Released OF Stanley Jefferson and P Wes Pierorazio.St. Louis Cardinals -- Released P Troy Konemann, P Dave Latter, P Jamie Surratt, OF Steve Grandizio, OF Keith Jones, OF Chris Vlasis and C Joe Wallace.

BOSTON -- Washington goaltender Craig Billington turned a rare start into a milestone victory last night at the FleetCenter.Billington, a former Boston goalie, was making his second start of the season. The backup to the Caps' Olaf Kolzig recorded his 100th NHL victory in a 3-0 win over the Bruins before a crowd of 17,565 -- Boston's first sellout of the season.But the Bruins' fans had little to cheer about and plenty to boo about as Billington, who played for the Bruins from 1994 through 1996 (15-14-3)

Capitals defenseman Jim Johnson will be playing left wing beside center Dale Hunter and right wing Kelly Miller tonight against the Quebec Nordiques.Is this any way to go into a showdown with the Nordiques, the team with the best winning percentage in the NHL?"

WASHINGTON - Center Dainius Zubrus returned to the Washington Capitals' lineup last night after a month's absence to jump-start the team's offense and set the tone for a 4-3 victory over the struggling Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres, 8-22-5-1, came into the game with the league's worst record. But, thanks to two lucky bounces that resulted in Buffalo goals, the Caps still needed goals from Zubrus, Mike Grier, Jaromir Jagr and a game-winner from rookie Ivan Ciernik with 8:24 to play to put away the battling Sabres.

LANDOVER -- The Washington Capitals were on their way to a 7-2 victory over the Penguins last night that would clinch their sixth-place finish in the Eastern Conference, when Peter Bondra looked up to see his NHL goal-scoring lead threatened.But it wasn't threatened long.With the Capitals leading 4-2 in the third period, and Pittsburgh's Jaromir Jagr having scored the two to get Pittsburgh back in the game and force a goal-scoring tie with Bondra at 32 apiece, Bondra went to work.He scored short-handed -- for an NHL-leading sixth time -- to retake the lead and give the Caps a 4-2 advantage.

BaseballOrioles -- Activated C Chris Hoiles from the 15-day DL. Optioned C Mark Parent to Triple-A Rochester.Milwaukee Brewers -- Agreed to a four-year working agreement with Double-A El Paso.Minnesota Twins -- Placed P Paul Abbott on the 15-day DL. Recalled P Mike Trombley from Triple-A Portland.Montreal Expos -- Optioned P Bill Sampen (1-4, 3.13) and IF Archi Cianfrocco (.241, 6 HRs, 30 RBI) to Triple-A Indianapolis. Recalled 1B Greg Colbrunn from an injury-rehabilitation assignment in Indianapolis.

BaseballChicago White Sox -- Signed 1B-OF James Wambach from Sioux City of the independent Northern League.New York Yankees -- Agreed to terms with P Guillermo Hernandez on a minor-league contract.Texas Rangers -- Released C Craig Colbert from his contract with Triple-A Oklahoma City.BasketballNBA -- Named Orlando Magic C Shaquille O'Neal Player of the Week.Cleveland Cavaliers -- Signed F Fred Roberts to a second 10-day contract.Miami Heat -- Placed G Khalid Reeves on the injured list with a sprained left ankle.

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- The Skipjacks had to settle for the satisfaction of putting up a gallant struggle.Their Cinderella story ended last night with a 5-3 loss to the Binghamton Rangers in the seventh game of the American Hockey League Southern Division first-round playoffs before 4,169 at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.It was the Skipjacks' final game. The franchise is being moved next season to Portland, Maine.Underdogs from the outset, the Skipjacks extended Binghamton the limit.

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- The Skipjacks' playoff series against the Binghamton Rangers quickly reverted to form.After swiping the opener of the American Hockey League's best-of-seven, first-round series from the top-seeded Rangers, the No. 4 Skipjacks bowed, 6-2, last night before 4,003 fans at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.The series, tied at 1-1, switches to Baltimore for the next three games, starting Friday.The second period was only 3:25 old when Binghamton had a 5-0 lead. That was in keeping with the way the Rangers had handled Baltimore all season.