ATLANTA -- The Cleveland Indians released pitcher Brett Myers on Thursday, cutting ties with a huge free-agent bust. The right-hander signed a $7 million, one-year contract in January but battled injuries and departed the Indians without winning a game. He went 0-3 with an 8.02 ERA in three starts and one relief appearance before going on the disabled list April 20 with a strained tendon in his elbow. He didnt pitch again for Cleveland. The Indians, who began Thursday four games back in the AL wild-card race, announced before facing the Atlanta Braves that Myers had been reinstated from the 60-day disabled list and released from his contract, which included an $8 million club option for 2014 the team had no intention of picking up. He is now a free agent and can sign with any team. "To his credit, boy, he plugged away," manager Terry Francona said. "He could have shut it down multiple times. He never did. He was getting antsy because he felt like he was getting ready to help us. And because hed had such a long layoff, we wanted to see him pitch some more." That wasnt going to happen with the Indians contending for their first playoff appearance since 2007. So, not wanting to risk losing someone off the 40-man roster if Myers was activated, general manager Chris Antonetti decided to let the pitcher go. The timing gives him a few days to pursue other opportunities before teams are allowed to expand their big league rosters for the final month of the regular season. "Maybe he can find a spot in the big leagues, as opposed to waiting until after teams call people up," Francona said. "I think that shows a lot of class on Chriss part." Clearly hurting, Myers struggled mightily during his brief time on the Cleveland staff. He gave up 29 hits -- including 10 homers -- in 21 1-3 innings. "He could have gone home any time. We would have never questioned it. But he kept plugging," Francona said. "It just wasnt coming out to the point where (there was a spot available). Were going to have some call-ups and if we end up taking some kid off the roster or losing some kid we dont want to lose, thats tricky. I didnt really know how we were going to find the innings to see how he was pitching, you know what I mean? Its kind of hard." Myers spent the majority of his career as a starter before pitching in relief for Houston and the Chicago White Sox in 2012. He signed with the Indians largely because they offered a chance to start again, penciling him in their rotation behind Justin Masterson and Ubaldo Jimenez. The 33-year-old Myers has reached double digits in wins six times and pitched at least 200 innings three times, most recently in 2011 when he won 14 games. Over a 12-year career, he is 97-96 with 40 saves and a 4.25 ERA. China Shoes Store . Cilic cruised to victory, beating the seventh-seeded Seppi 6-1, 6-3 in just 72 minutes. He faced only one break point, winning 24 out of 29 points played on the first serve. China Shoes Wholesale . 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A three-man panel of former referees reviewed the incident and all agreed that it was a sending-off offence.HOUSTON - Heading into a game with the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets coach Kevin McHale had his eye on a few matchups. A specific one that caught his eye was getting Dwight Howard in the post.The plan worked.With San Antonio missing big bodies Tim Duncan, who was rested along with fellow veteran Manu Ginobili, and Tiago Splitter (right calf tightness), Howard dominated the interior from the opening tip, scoring 32 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in leading Houston to a 98-81 victory.We looked at some stuff (on tape) and we got him in the post, McHale said. I thought (Howard) rolled hard and got some late at the rim. He was really devastating on those high passes. Its important that he gets in a rhythm and plays. It doesnt matter who is out there playing for them, hes got to play well for us.The win runs Houstons record to a league best 6-0 while dropping San Antonios mark to 2-2.With no Duncan or Splitter inside Houston had a decided advantage down low and exploited it from the beginning, feeding Howard at every turn. Whether on the pick-and-roll, at the elbow, or on alley-oop passes, Howard was the target and had a double-double — 20 points and 12 rebounds — by halftime as he exploited a vulnerable Spurs interior defence where Matt Bonner, Jeff Ayers, and Aron Baynes struggled to keep up.We are a sum-of-the-parts team, Popovich said. We have to have all our parts to be at our best. We cant rely on one player. We have to do it as a group. If we have injuries, we need our full bench to continue to play at our best.When Howard was not scoring inside, James Harden filled the stat sheet, adding 20 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Rockets. While he had his share of points, Harden was clear after the game about the advantage of having a force inside.Its tough with the best big man in the league rolling down the paint, Harden said of Howard.dddddddddddd Hes a lob target, and you have shooters around him. Its tough to guard it.As the Spurs struggled to keep Howard from gutting them in the middle, they had little consistency when they had the ball. They started the game sluggish, going scoreless in the first six minutes.While San Antonio rebounded and pulled to within 18-15 at the end of the first quarter, that was as close as the Spurs would get. The tough night finished with the defending NBA champs, who trailed by as many as 31, shooting just 34.4 per cent from the field.It was a bad night tonight and I couldnt hit a shot, Tony Parker, who finished with just six points, said. Defensively, we did OK, but we never got into an offensive rhythm.Cory Joseph led the Spurs with 18 points off the bench and Baynes had 12 points and 11 rebounds.TIP-INSSpurs: Marco Belinelli was an injury scratch due to a strained right groin and was replaced by Bonner. . San Antonio started 0-for-15 on 3-pointers, making their first with 7:02 to go in the third quarter, and finished 2 for 20 from beyond the arc.Rockets: Terrence Jones missed his second straight game with a leg contusion. . Patrick Beverley missed the game due to a strained hamstring and was replaced by Isaiah Canaan, who scored 12 points along with Jason Terrys 16 points. . Houston has now won six games over the Spurs dating to last season.WINNING BIGHouston has won each of its first six games by 10 points or more. According to Elias Sports Bureau, the Rockets are the first team to accomplish the feat since the 1985-86 Denver Nuggets.DEFENDING THE ARCHouston came into the game holding opponents to 29.1 per cent from beyond the arc. That number will improve after holding the Spurs to 2-for-20 shooting from 3-point range.UP NEXTSpurs: Host New Orleans on Saturday.Rockets: Host Golden State on Saturday. ' ' '