MLB: Pujols wins NL MVP Award

Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols won his second NL MVP Award, powering past Phillies star Ryan Howard by a comfortable margin yesterday.

Pujols, who hit .357 with 37 homers and 116 RBIs, got 18 of the 32 first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America and had 369 points. The first baseman won the MVP Award in 2005. Howard was second with 12 first-place votes and 308 points. Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun was third, with Manny Ramirez fourth, Houston’s Lance Berkman fifth, Milwaukee’s CC Sabathia sixth and the Mets’ David Wright seventh.

* Reliever Jeremy Affeldt became the first of 171 free agents to agree to a contract, striking an $8 million, two-year deal with the Giants. He pitched for the Reds last season.

* Four Hall of Famers and more than 20 other retired major leaguers will play in a new Hall of Fame Classic on June 21 in Cooperstown. It will replace the Hall of Fame game, discontinued this season after 68 years.

NBA: McGrady reinjures knee

Rockets star Tracy McGrady left last night’s 100-89 victory at Oklahoma City after aggravating his surgically repaired left knee. He will have an MRI scan today. . . . Carlos Boozer scored 21 points to lead Utah to a 109-97 victory over the visiting Suns . . . Roger Mason‘s 3-pointer with 8.4 seconds left lifted the visiting Spurs to an 86-83 victory over the Clippers.

RACING: Curlin valued at $20M

A thoroughbred appraiser set Curlin’s market value at $20 million and recommended shares of the richest North American racehorse in history be consolidated under primary owner Jess Jackson.