Fast Break

Baseball

Sosa clears 44th fence

Sammy Sosa of the Texas Rangers set a major league record Thursday by hitting two home runs in his 44th ballpark at Cleveland’s Jacobs Field.

Sosa hit the first pitch from Indians starter Paul Byrd into the seats leading off the sixth. He added another homer in the eighth off reliever Tom Mastny.

Sosa had been tied with Ken Griffey Jr., and Fred McGriff with homers in 43 ballparks. The only stadiums in use where the 38-year-old has not hit a homer are RFK in Washington and the new Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

Recruiting

NCAA outlaws text messaging

The NCAA approved a ban on text messaging between coaches and recruits.

The NCAA’s board of directors passed the measure a week after it was approved by the management council. The ban will begin in August.

Basketball

Wilkens getting new title

Lenny Wilkens has played many roles during his 12-year tenure with the Sonics.

Next week he’ll officially add the title of president of basketball operations to his resume and end any speculation about a return to the sideline as the replacement for coach Bob Hill, who was fired Tuesday. Wilkens’ first assignment in his new role is finding a GM and coach.

Baseball

Was it blood or just a hoax?

No paint, no ink, no ketchup.

Nothing but Curt Schilling’s blood was seeping through his socks in his dramatic pitching performance in Game 6 of the 2004 American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees, current and former Red Sox said after a rumor resurfaced that the pitcher milked his injury for drama while helping Boston end its 86-year title drought.

On Wednesday, Baltimore announcer Gary Thorne said during his broadcast of the Red Sox-Orioles game that Boston backup catcher Doug Mirabelli said the blood was a hoax.

Thorne backed off after talking to Mirabelli on Thursday. Thorne said Mirabelli had been joking.