Major League Baseball starts investigations unit

Major League Baseball launched a department of investigations Friday, a permanent branch of the commissioner’s office responsible for looking into drug use in the sport.

In his report last month on drug use in baseball, George Mitchell had recommended the formation of the unit.

Adopting another of Mitchell’s recommendations, MLB is establishing a tip line for team employees to make the commissioner’s office aware of violations of drug, betting and other rules.

MLB said the unit “will have broad authority to conduct investigations.” The limits of the unit were not immediately clear.

Dan Mullin, a former New York City Police officer who had been baseball’s senior director of security operations, was appointed vice president and head of the unit. George Hanna, a former FBI employee currently in baseball’s security department, was appointed senior director of investigations.

Closer Chad Cordero and the Washington Nationals agreed to a one-year, $6.2 million contract that avoided an arbitration hearing.

Cordero, a right-hander, gets a raise from the $4.15 million he earned last season after going through arbitration. He went 3-3 with 37 saves and a 3.36 earned-run average last season.

Reliever Eddie Guardado and the Texas Rangers agreed to terms on a one-year, $2-million contract.

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TENNIS

Henin wins 28th match in a row

Top-seeded Justine Henin won her 28th match in a row, beating second-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, in the Sydney International final after falling behind, 3-0, in the third set. Henin broke Kuznetsova’s serve at 4-4 in the third set, then held serve and won on her first match point.

Eleni Daniilidou’s first WTA Tour singles title since 2006 turned out to be her easiest when she won the Hobart International in Australia in a walkover.

Second-seeded Vera Zvonareva rolled her left ankle during a practice session about two hours before the scheduled start of the final and could not play.

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Oregon’s Stewart to enter NFL draft

Oregon announced that running back Jonathan Stewart will pass up his senior season and make himself available for the NFL draft.

Stewart rushed for a team-record 1,722 yards, averaging 132.5 yards a game, in helping the Ducks to a 9-4 record.

Stewart also ran for 11 touchdowns and caught two touchdown passes.

He gained 253 yards in Oregon’s 56-21 victory over South Florida in the Sun Bowl.

The Air Force Academy and Coach Troy Calhoun agreed in principle to a new five-year deal. The terms of the contract weren’t released as it still has to be approved by the academy.

As expected, Purdue announced that Coach Joe Tiller will retire after next season and be replaced by Danny Hope, the Boilermakers’ new associate head coach.

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JURISPRUDENCE

Nephew gets life in Berbick slaying

A nephew of former heavyweight boxing champion Trevor Berbick was sentenced in Kingston, Jamaica, to life in prison for his murder.

Harold Berbick, 21, will be eligible for parole in 20 years. His accomplice, Kenton Gordon, was sentenced to 14 years in prison after being found guilty of manslaughter.

Police said the two beat the 54-year-old Trevor Berbick to death in October 2006 and left his body in a church courtyard.

Former NBA star Glen Rice was arrested on a felony battery charge. Police said he beat a man he found hiding in his estranged wife’s closet.

Rice went to the Miami home of estranged wife Christina Rice and punched Alberto Perez several times, police said.

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BOXING

Mora stays unbeaten with TKO victory

Sergio Mora remained unbeaten by recording a sixth-round technical knockout victory over Rito Ruvalcaba in the middleweight main event at Morongo Casino Resort and Spa in Cabazon.

“I found my rhythm after the fourth round,” said Mora (20-0-1), of Whittier. “I know I can take on any fighter when I’m in my rhythm. When I’m not, I’m an ordinary fighter.”

Ruvalcaba dropped to 32-9.

On the undercard, 2004 U.S. Olympian Vicente Escobedo improved to 16-1 with a unanimous decision over Pascali Adorno (10-7-2) in a lightweight bout. Escobedo won by scores of 100-90 on all three judges’ cards.

-- Lance Pugmire

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MISCELLANY

Grange wins Cup race; Miller finishes third

Jean-Baptiste Grange used a strong slalom leg to win a World Cup super-combi event at Wengen, Switzerland, finishing ahead of Daniel Albrecht and Bode Miller. Grange had the fastest slalom leg of the day for a combined time of 2 minutes 20.61 seconds. Albrecht was second in 2:20.67, and Miller clocked 2:21.12.

The U.S. men’s volleyball team qualified for this summer’s Olympics in Beijing after defeating Puerto Rico, 25-20, 25-19, 25-20, in the NORCECA Continental Olympic qualifying championship at Caguas, Puerto Rico. The U.S. finished 5-0.

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From Times Staff and Wire Reports