GLENEAGLES, Scotland (AP) — Europe owned a 6 ½ to 5 ½ lead over the United States through today’s fourballs matches at Ryder Cup in Gleneagles, Scotland. Americans Jim Furyk (FYOOR’-ihk) and Hunter Mahan (MAY’-han) beat Lee Westwood and Jamie Donaldson 4 and 3, and U.S. rookies Jordan Spieth (speeth) and Patrick Reed topped Thomas Bjorn (byohrn) and Martin Kaymer (KY’-mur) 5 and 3. The Americans were behind 6-3 after Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson finished with 10 straight birdies to win today’s first fourballs match for Europe.
CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds have extended general manager Walt Jocketty’s contract through 2016 despite the team’s disappointing showing this year. Injuries have led the team to go 74-86 under first-year manager Bryan Price after reaching the playoffs three times in four years under skipper Dusty Baker. Jocketty’s deal was set to expire at the end of the season.
UNDATED (AP) — The Oakland Athletics are hoping to celebrate an American League wild-card berth as early as tonight. The A’s need a victory at Texas or a Seattle loss at Anaheim to eliminate the Mariners and clinch a playoff slot. Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers begin the day leading the AL Central by just one game over the Kansas City Royals.
UNDATED (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals still pace the National League Central by one game over Pittsburgh after both teams won last night. The Pirates have gone 17-4 since September 4 to pass the Brewers in the standings and shave four games off the Cards’ lead. The Redbirds take on the Diamondbacks in Arizona after the Bucs visit the Cincinnati Reds.
DAVIS, Okla. (AP) — Four members of the North Central Texas College softball team were killed and more than a dozen were injured when a tractor-trailer crossed a southern Oklahoma highway median and plowed into the side or their bus. Authorities didn’t identify any of the victims. The collision happened at around 9 p.m. last night on Interstate 35 south of Davis, which is about 70 miles south of Oklahoma City and 60 miles north of the North Central Texas College campus in Gainesville.
