The Associated Press

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. - Roxie Campanella, the widow of Hall of Fame catcher Roy Campanella, died of cancer Sunday morning at her home. She was 77.

Campanella was a frequent visitor to Dodger Stadium and a longtime supporter of victims of spinal cord injuries through her work with the Roy and Roxie Campanella Foundation.

The foundation was established after her husband's career was shortened by a car wreck that left him paralyzed in January 1958. Roy Campanella was a three-time National League Most Valuable Player who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1948-57.

"Roxie was a great lady and meant the world to Roy," said Don Newcombe, a teammate of Roy Campanella's who pitched for the Dodgers from 1949-58. "Roy always told me that Roxie was the reason that he was able to carry on. For that, she will always have a special place in my heart."

MEXICAN GAME: Brian Banks and Hee-Seop Choi each hit an RBI single in the ninth inning for the Florida Marlins, who rallied for a 2-2 tie with the Houston Astros on Sunday in the finale of a two-game series in Mexico city.

The Astros took a 2-0 lead into the ninth, but Florida came back against reliever Ricky Stone.

After the Astros failed to score in the bottom of the ninth, officials announced the teams would not play extra innings, prompting some fans to boo, whistle and litter the field with empty plastic beer cups.

PADRES: With the exception of watching his third pitch sail out of the ballpark, David Wells was happy with his return to the mound nearly five months after back spasms led to a quick exit from a World Series start.

"Just to get back out there and be pain-free was the main concern," Wells said after his spring debut against the Royals. "I didn't try to overdo it."

YANKEES: Pitcher Jon Lieber was sidelined by a groin problem after returning from a long layoff, putting him in doubt for the start of the regular season and probably leaving Donovan Osborne with the No. 5 spot in the rotation.