Former players killed

Former major league players Luis Valbuena and Jose Castillo were killed in a car crash following a winter league game in Venezuela. Valbuena, 33, and Castillo, 37, died late Thursday, according to Cardenales de Lara of the Venezuelan league. The team said their vehicle overturned as they were heading to the city of Barquisimeto after a game in the capital, Caracas. Third baseman Carlos Rivero was in the car and survived, according to the website beisbolplay. Valbuena, an 11-year major league veteran, hit .199 with 9 home runs and 33 RBI in 96 games this year for the Los Angeles Angels, who released him on Aug. 7. Valbuena hit .226 with 114 home runs over 11 big league seasons with the Angels, Seattle, Cleveland, the Chicago Cubs and Houston. Castillo played five seasons with Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Houston. He had a .254 average with 39 home runs.