BRIEFS

Ellis hired

at Coastal

Cliff Ellis was hired as Coastal Carolina's basketball coach Monday, succeeding Buzz Peterson at a school that finished 15-15 last year.

Ellis, a former Auburn and Clemson coach, signed a five-year contract, the school said.

''What I see here is a tremendous opportunity,'' Ellis said. ''I see the potential to have a vision where we can move forward.''

Ellis said his past several years working as a television analyst gave him the chance to examine other teams' strategies, and that he was excited to get back to coaching at Coastal.

''What I want to do is make a difference,'' he said. ''My vision is to take this program to the top.''

Ellis was among five finalists for the job vacated last month by Peterson, who left the Chanticleers after two seasons to become player personnel director for the Charlotte Bobcats.

The 61-year-old Ellis has a Division I record of 534-337. His last coaching job ended in 2004 at Auburn, where he went 186-125. He spent 10 years at Clemson, leaving as the Tigers' winningest coach in 1994 with a record of 177-128. He had eight NCAA tournament appearances.

Clemens wins

No. 350

Roger Clemens had a stack of souvenirs from his 350th win sitting in his locker at Yankee Stadium. Jerseys, balls and other keepsakes, all ready to be autographed.

''I enjoy sharing it,'' he said.

Still, what Clemens wanted most Monday night was a healthy Alex Rodriguez.

The Rocket reached a rare milestone with a vintage performance, pitching eight innings of two-hit ball and leading the New York Yankees to a 5-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins.

But the Yankees' excitement over his achievement was tempered by Rodriguez's strained left hamstring, which forced the star slugger out of the game.

''It was not good, and that's the downer of the night,'' Clemens said. ''We need him.''

Clemens became the first major leaguer to win 350 games since Hall of Famer Warren Spahn of the Milwaukee Braves accomplished the feat by beating the Chicago Cubs 2- 0 on Sept. 29, 1963 - just more than a year after Clemens was born. Yankees manager Joe Torre was Spahn's catcher in that game.

''I'm not as old as I thought I was,'' Clemens said with a wry smile.

Bobby Abreu hit a tiebreaking homer and finished with three hits for the Yankees, who won for only the third time in 12 games. Rodriguez got his 80th RBI on a first-inning grounder, then left in the sixth after an awkward play at first base.