PITTSBURGH - First baseman Brad Eldred was recalled from Indianapolis of the International League Thursday by the Pittsburgh Pirates, and reserve infielder Bobby Hill was optioned to the Triple-A farm club.

Eldred, 25, was hitting .282 with 15 home runs and 48 RBI in 54 games with Indianapolis, including 10 homers and 23 RBI in his last 11 games. The right-handed hitting Eldred, a sixth-round draft choice in 2002, is expected to replace the struggling Daryle Ward in the lineup.

"He's swinging the bat very well. We're struggling offensively, and we want to give him the opportunity to swing the bat at the major league level and see what he can do," Pirates general manager David Littlefield said.

Hill, 27, hit .269 in 58 games with Pittsburgh this season.

LONDON - U.S. Olympic officials Thursday won their appeal to uphold the victory of Michael Johnson and his teammates in the 1,600-meter relay at the 2000 Sydney Games.The Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned a decision by track's world governing body to disqualify the entire team because of Jerome Young's positive drug test in 1999.In a binding decision that brings a protracted legal case to a close, the court ruled that international rules at the time of the Sydney Olympics did not allow for a whole relay team to be penalized.Only Young should be stripped of his medal, the three-man panel said.

MILWAUKEE - Ben Crane, who was atop the leaderboard when thunderstorms interrupted the first round of the U.S. Bank Championship Thursday, continued his birdie bombardment on Brown Deer Park after a nearly 5-hour delay.His 8-under 62 made him the clubhouse leader when play was suspended for the day after a second rain delay of about an hour. Ninety-three golfers in the field of 156 were still on the course - or waiting to tee off.Kenny Perry, the 2003 winner, shot a 63.

ABERDEEN, Scotland - Loren Roberts made his Champions Tour debut with a 1-over 72 at Royal Aberdeen Thursday to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the Senior British Open.He had a one-shot lead over Craig Stadler, Des Smyth and four others.Roberts stole the show from Greg Norman, another 50-year-old in his senior debut. Norman, coming off a tie for 60th last week in the British Open at St. Andrews, struggled in the wind and shot 76.