Denver ? The Colorado Rockies have fired manager Clint Hurdle less than two years after their incredible “Roctober” run to the World Series. He was replaced by bench coach Jim Tracy.

Without reliable hitting, pitching or defense, the Rockies stumbled to an 18-28 start and were 141/2 games behind Los Angeles in the NL West heading into Friday night’s action.

Hurdle, who had been Colorado’s manager since replacing Buddy Bell three weeks into the 2002 season, was 534-625 for a .460 winning percentage in his seven-plus seasons.

Since the Rockies’ one and only trip to the World Series in 2007, where they were swept by the Boston Red Sox, Colorado was 24 games under .500 with Hurdle at the helm. Tracy has a 562-572 managerial record with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2001-05) and Pittsburgh Pirates (2006-07), with a division title in 2004. He joined the Rockies’ staff this winter at the behest of general manager Dan O’Dowd.

Aside from their 90-73 record in ’07, when they won the wild-card in a memorable one-game playoff against San Diego, the Rockies owned nothing but losing records under Hurdle.

BASEBALL

White Sox shelve Quentin

Kansas City, Mo. — Outfielder Carlos Quentin, who led the Chicago White Sox in home runs last season, went on the 15-day disabled list Friday because of soreness in the bottom of his left foot. Outfielder DeWayne Wise came back from his rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Charlotte.

NFL

Page signs Chiefs tender

Kansas City, Mo. — Safety Jarrad Page has signed his restricted free agent tender with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs announced the signing Friday. Page joined the Chiefs as a seventh-round draft pick from UCLA in 2006 and soon became a starter.

TENNIS

Venus falls at French Open

Paris — Out of breath and out of sorts, Venus Williams played her way right out of the French Open on Friday with her most lopsided Grand Slam loss since 2001.

That the No. 3-seeded Williams would exit in the third round at Roland Garros is not quite so extraordinary, perhaps, considering she now has exited this particular Grand Slam tournament at this precise stage in four of the past five years. That Williams would lose the way she did — 6-0, 6-4 — and to the player she did — 29th-seeded Agnes Szavay — was anything but ordinary.

AUTO RACING

Reutimann wins Dover pole

Dover, Del. — David Reutimann won the pole Friday at Dover International Speedway. Reutimann ran a lap of 156.794 mph on Friday to qualify first at Dover only four days after he won his first career Sprint Cup race. Kasey Kahne was second, and Juan Pablo Montoya qualified third. Reed Sorenson and Greg Biffle round out the top five.

Trucks race postponed

Dover, Del. — The trucks race scheduled at Dover International Speedway was postponed because of rain and has been rescheduled for 5 p.m. today. Ron Hornaday Jr. won the pole in qualifying. He ran a lap of 155.541 mph for his 21st pole in 232 career trucks races.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Duke dismisses ex-QB

Durham, N.C. — Former Duke starting quarterback Zack Asack has been kicked off the team. Coach David Cutcliffe said Friday that Asack was dismissed immediately for an undisclosed violation of team policy. Asack was entering his redshirt senior season after shifting to safety from quarterback during the spring.

New Mexico coach accused

Albuquerque, N.M. — New Mexico football coach Mike Locksley, on the job less than six months, has been accused of sexual harassment, age discrimination and retaliation by a former administrative assistant. Sylvia Lopez filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

GOLF

Stricker leads at Colonial

Fort Worth, Texas — Steve Stricker shot his second straight 63 on Friday at Colonial Country Club, giving him a 14-under 126 total for a one-shot lead at the Crowne Plaza Invitational. Tim Clark, Vijah Singh and Sean O’Hair shot 64s and were lined up right behind Stricker: Clark was one shot back, Singh one more and O’Hair yet another.

Oklahoma State defeated

Toledo, Ohio — Georgia beat top-seeded Oklahoma State, 3-2, with a late surge Friday in an NCAA golf men’s team quarterfinal. Texas A&M beat No. 2 Arizona State 31/2-11/2.

Three share Principal lead

West Des Moines, Iowa — Champions Tour newcomer Olin Browne, former University of Iowa player Lonnie Nielsen and Bruce Vaughan shot 4-under 67s to share the first-round lead in the Principal Charity Classic.

CYCLING

Menchov keeps Girio lead

Mount Vesuvius, Italy — Russia’s Denis Menchov all but wrapped up the Giro d’Italia on Friday, keeping the leader’s pink jersey after a stage that took riders up the slopes of the Mount Vesuvius volcano.

Carlos Sastre of Spain won the 19th stage with a solo attack up the steep volcano. Lance Armstrong fell midway through the stage, but seemed unhurt and got back on his bike after repairs.

HORSE RACING

Rachel Alexandra won’t run

Lexington, Ky. — Rachel Alexandra will not be running in the Belmont Stakes. The co-owner of the Preakness winner announced the decision Friday.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Calipari to call hearing

Lexington, Ky. — A letter from the NCAA tells Kentucky coach John Calipari he must participate in next week’s hearing on alleged major violations at Memphis, even though he isn’t considered “at risk” in the probe. Calipari responded that he would join the hearing by phone.