Fast Break

Baseball

Good-luck charm for Red Sox dies

Nelson de la Rosa, a 2-foot-4 actor and ubiquitous good-luck charm for the Boston Red Sox during their 2004 World Series run, has died. He was 38.

De la Rosa, believed to be one of the world’s smallest men, died of unknown causes in a Providence, R.I., hospital early Sunday, said his agent, Andres Duran.

He fell ill shortly after arriving in Miami on Friday from Chile, where the Dominican national had been working in a circus. On Saturday, he traveled to New York, and later to Providence, where two of his brothers live.

De la Rosa became internationally known when he appeared with Marlon Brando in the 1996 film, “The Island of Dr. Moreau.”

After the baseball fan was introduced to then-Boston ace Pedro Martinez, the two Dominicans became friends. De la Rosa became a regular presence in the clubhouse in the playoffs of 2004, in which the Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years.

Baseball

Moyer signs 2-year extension

Veteran pitcher Jamie Moyer signed a $10.5 million, two-year contract extension with the Philadelphia Phillies.

The left-hander, who turns 44 next month, bolstered Philadelphia’s starting rotation after arriving in a trade with Seattle on Aug. 20. He was 5-2 with a 4.03 ERA in eight starts, including a 4-1 record during the Phillies’ failed playoff push in September.

Moyer, who made $5.5 million this season, was 11-14 with a 4.30 ERA in 33 starts with the Mariners and Phillies.

Rodeo

Gray in chase

With time running out in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association season, Cheney bareback rider Ryan Gray gave himself a little breathing room in the chase for a spot in the National Finals Rodeo.

Gray, who qualified for his first NFR last year, tied for first at the NILE rodeo in Billings, Mont., over the weekend, picking up almost $4,500.

He is now sitting 13th in the standings with $60,974 with a handful of rodeos remaining. The top 15 make the NFR.