SAN DIEGO — David Wells is finished with his hometown San Diego Padres, and it's possible that baseball has seen the last of the boisterous left-hander.

General manager Kevin Towers said Wednesday the Padres will cut ties with the struggling 44-year-old on Thursday to activate All-Star Chris Young from the disabled list.

Towers and manager Bud Black met with Wells on Tuesday night after the Padres' game in St. Louis, telling him that he wouldn't be making his scheduled start Saturday in Cincinnati. The 235-game winner was 0-3 with a 14.33 ERA in his last four starts, and 5-8 with a 5.54 ERA overall this season.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Wake Forest chose Dino Gaudio to succeed the late Skip Prosser Wednesday, entrusting the program to the veteran coach's longtime top assistant.The 50-year-old Gaudio, Wake Forest's associate head coach since 2002, received a five-year contract, but terms weren't immediately disclosed. Prosser died July 26 of an apparent heart attack at the age of 56.

CARSON, Calif. — Maria Sharapova found herself in trouble in the first set before escaping in the second when her opponent retired because of breathing problems.Sharapova advanced 7-6 (5), 3-1 over Eleni Daniilidou Wednesday in her opening match in the East West Bank Classic. Daniilidou called for a medical timeout and then walked to the net to shake hands with the top-seeded Russian.Also, Ana Ivanovic beat Ashley Harkleroad 6-4, 6-2 in her first match since losing in the Wimbledon semifinals to eventual champion Venus Williams.

NYON, Switzerland — European soccer's governing body will investigate reports of racist taunting of American midfielder DaMarcus Beasley by fans in Montenegro during a Champions League qualifier.The taunts occurred during Tuesday night's game, when he scored for Glasgow Rangers in a 1-0 victory over FK Zeta in Bijelo Polje, Montenegro. A small section of fans made "monkey chants" aimed at Beasley and teammate Jean-Claude Darcheville, according to Rangers' Web site.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jeremy Mayfield will not return to Bill Davis Racing next season. Mayfield joined BDR this year as the Toyota team expanded to two cars, but has only qualified for eight of the 21 events this season.Kentucky Derby winner euthanizedPARIS, Ky. — Gato Del Sol, the winner of the 1982 Kentucky Derby and the second-oldest living Derby winner, has died at 28. The horse was euthanized Tuesday.

WEIRTON, W.Va. — Butler Country Club's Robert McClellan claimed first place at the Tri-State Section PGA Assistants Championship at Williams Country Club Wednesday.McClellan, who entered the third round with a one-stroke lead after carding a 67 on Tuesday, shot a 66 to end with an 11-under-par 133, four strokes in front of three other golfers tied for second.With the win, McClellan qualified for the 2007 Assistants Championship, to be played Oct. 25 to 28 at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.Treesdale Golf and Country Club's Travis Dickson tied for seventh with a 143 (72-71).