Houston sends Gooden home

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Desperate for pitching help, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays today acquired righthander Dwight Gooden from the Houston Astros for cash considerations.

Gooden, a four-time All-Star, was signed by the Astros in January and won a job in the rotation out of spring training. He lasted just four innings in his lone start on tomorrow against Philadelphia, allowing four runs and six hits.

With Scott Elarton tentatively expected to return to the Houston rotation next week, Gooden became expendable. Elarton has been on the disabled list after undergoing offseason rotator cuff surgery.

A resident of the Tampa area, Gooden is expected to move into the rotation and start tomorrow against the Detroit Tigers. The Devil Rays have allowed at least six runs in all but two games this season.

UCLA may lose two to NBA draft

LOS ANGELES (AP) - UCLA sophomores JaRon Rush and Jerome Moiso have decided to forgo their final two years of eligibility to make themselves available for the upcoming NBA draft, according to a newspaper report.

However, neither player would confirm the story in Thursday's Los Angeles Daily News.

"JaRon's gone, that's a done deal," the newspaper quoted a member of the basketball program who asked not to be identified.

"Jerome's leaving, and it was decided long ago," another unidentified source said.

UCLA coach Steve Lavin was unavailable for comment, but school spokesman Marc Dellins said yesterday he's heard nothing from Rush or Moiso.

"Both players have indicated that they will notify our office when they have reached a decision," Dellins said.

"At this point in time, neither one has notified us."

The players declined to discuss their futures when approached by the Daily News after an informal workout at UCLA's Wooden Center.