Anaheim, Calif. ? Roger Clemens was a loser in what might have been the final start of his career, and Mexico eliminated Team USA from the World Baseball Classic.

Oliver Perez and seven relievers combined to pitch a three-hitter Thursday night as Mexico beat the Rocket and the United States, 2-1, giving Japan another shot at Korea in the WBC semifinals.

The outcome was a stunner, considering Team USA fielded a lineup loaded with All-Stars even without Derrek Lee and Johnny Damon, sidelined due to sore left shoulders.

South Korea had a 3-0 second-round record in Group One, with Team USA, Japan and Mexico all going 1-2. Japan earned the second semifinal berth from the group by allowing the fewest runs in games between the tied teams.

Japan, which already has lost twice to South Korea in the Classic, faces its archrival in Saturday’s opening semifinal game at Petco Park in San Diego, with the Dominican Republic meeting Cuba on Saturday night.

The winners play Monday night for the championship.

Clemens, who has won 341 games and struck out 4,502 batters in his big-league career, has said he was leaning toward retirement after the Classic. He wasn’t at his best against Mexico, allowing six hits and two runs in 41â3 innings with no walks and four strikeouts. He threw 73 pitches – seven below the maximum for the second round.

BASEBALL

Prior has shoulder strain

Mesa, Ariz. – Chicago Cubs pitcher Mark Prior has a strained right shoulder and could miss the beginning of the season.

Selig: No Bonds decision

Scottsdale, Ariz. – Commissioner Bud Selig is proceeding cautiously before deciding whether baseball should launch an investigation into allegations that Barry Bonds used performance-enhancing drugs for at least five seasons.

Selig dismissed a report Thursday in the New York Daily News, citing an unidentified baseball official, that the commissioner already had decided to investigate Bonds.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Report details Snyder ouster

Columbia, Mo. – An outside investigation of the Missouri basketball program concluded athletic director Mike Alden did not send a radio announcer to fire former coach Quin Snyder, but the extent of the broadcaster’s role in Snyder’s departure may never be completely clear.

According to an 11-page report released Thursday, Tigers broadcaster Gary Link – who also is an assistant to Alden – told a pair of investigators enlisted by the university that “Alden gave him no directive or order to talk with Snyder” on Feb. 9, hours after Snyder told reporters he would finish out the season.

Snyder wound up quitting the next day, with six regular-season games remaining and a season record of 10-11 and 3-7 in the Big 12 Conference. Snyder did not speak with the outside investigators, but previously said he believed Link was sent by Alden to deliver the hatchet.

Buckeyes’ penalty clarified

Dayton, Ohio – Ohio State must erase references from university-produced material to all regular-season games the Buckeyes played while using an ineligible player, in addition to removing any NCAA Tournament trips they made during that time. Ohio State spokesman Steve Snapp said Thursday the university asked the NCAA whether it had to wipe out references to all games played and not just those played in the postseason.

GOLF

Bryant, Wilson tied at top

Orlando, Fla. – Bart Bryant surged to the top of a crowded leaderboard with a 6-under 66 on Thursday in the Bay Hill Invitational, sharing the lead with Dean Wilson.

Bryant used a 3-iron into 12 feet for eagle on the 16th hole and a string of good iron shots.

Ernie Els wound up with a 67 on a sunny, balmy day at Bay Hill, conquering the par-5 sixth hole with a 3-wood over the water and a bending, 50-foot eagle putt on the sixth. He was joined by former British Open champion Ben Curtis, former Bay Hill winner Chad Campbell, Lucas Glover and Jason Gore. Tiger Woods was at 4 under until back-to-back bogeys put him at 70.

Song leads LPGA event

Superstition Mountain, Ariz. – Aree Song shot an 8-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead Thursday over Sarah Lee and Maria Hjorth in the Safeway International.

NFL

Garcia signs with Eagles

Philadelphia – The Philadelphia Eagles signed veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia on Thursday, giving Donovan McNabb a capable and experienced backup he lacked last season.

The Eagles also signed wide receiver Jabar Gaffney. Both he and Garcia signed one-year deals.

A three-time Pro Bowl selection during his five seasons in San Francisco, Garcia played for Cleveland in 2004 before going to Detroit last year. He threw for 937 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions in six games with the Lions.

Garcia, 36, will replace Mike McMahon, who played poorly in seven starts after McNabb had

season-ending surgery for a sports hernia last year.

Chiefs sign QB Huard

Kansas City, Mo. – The Kansas City Chiefs signed quarterback Damon Huard to a one-year contract Thursday, assuring a veteran backup for Trent Green after the departure of Todd Collins earlier in the week.

Terms of the deal were not announced.

Huard, an unrestricted free agent, has played sparingly in his NFL career, starting only six games over nine seasons spent with the Chiefs, Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots, where he was a member of two Super Bowl teams.

Culpepper apologizes

Minneapolis – Daunte Culpepper, traded this week from Minnesota to Miami, says he’s sorry for the embarrassment caused by the Lake Minnetonka boat party, even though he says he did nothing wrong.

Culpepper and three teammates are charged with misdemeanor lewd conduct on board a tour boat on the Twin Cities lake. His e-mail to the media Thursday said he accepted the responsibility and accountability of being a high-profile athlete.

COLLEGE WRESTLING

OSU takes NCAA lead

Oklahoma City – Three-time defending champion Oklahoma State piled up six pins in the second round of the NCAA wrestling tournament Thursday night to take a 12-point lead over rival Oklahoma.