Henderson 1-for-3 in Newark debut

Newark, N.J. — Rickey Henderson went 1-for-3 and drove in a run in his first game with the minor league Newark Bears, and showed major league bravado in predicting he’ll soon be back in the big leagues.

Baseball’s career leader in runs, steals and walks said he’s “99 percent sure” he’ll be signed by a major league team before long, and boasted that he can still run wild on the base paths.

“Anybody in the major leagues, I can outsteal right now, at age 44,” he said before the Bears beat the Bridgeport Bluefish 6-5 at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Park. “When they call on me on first or second base, I get the job done.”

Astros’ Lugo demoted after being arrested

Houston — Houston Astros shortstop Julio Lugo was demoted Thursday, hours after he was arrested and charged with hitting his wife in the face and slamming her head on a car hood. Lugo was arrested after Wednesday night’s game at Minute Maid Park.

Players’ union approves All-Star-World Series link

New York — Baseball players agreed to a two-year experiment Thursday to give home-field advantage in the World Series to the league that wins the All-Star game. Owners approved the proposal Jan. 17, and union lawyers have discussed it with players since then.