MLB-SCHEDULE
Astros still 1 ½ up on Angels
UNDATED (AP) — The Houston Astros lost for the fifth time in six games on Saturday, but it didn’t hurt them in the standings.
Jesse Chavez held them to a run and six hits in seven innings of Oakland’s 2-1 victory against Houston. Danny Valencia hit a two-run double in the first inning off Collin McHugh, who was trying to become the AL’s first 14-game winner.
The Astros still lead the AL West by 1 ½ games over the Angels following Baltimore’s 5-0 triumph at Anaheim. Ubaldo Jimenez carried a no-hitter into the sixth and left the game after yielding just two hits in eight innings. Manny Machado was 4-for-5 with a solo homer, Caleb Joseph added a solo shot and Jonathan Schoop (skohp) had two RBIs for the Orioles.
In other major league finals:
— Toronto is within 2 ½ games of the AL East-leading Yankees following the Blue Jays’ 6-0 victory in the Bronx. Neither team scored until Justin Smoak belted a grand slam in the sixth inning of the Blue Jays’ seventh consecutive win. Troy Tulowitzki (too-loh-WITS’-kee) added a solo shot and David Price scattered three hits in seven innings as the Jays handed the Yankees their third loss in four games.
— Kendrys (KEHN’-drees) Morales and Salvador Perez drove in two runs apiece as Kansas City topped the White Sox 7-6 to take a 10 ½-game lead in the AL Central. The Royals’ bullpen tossed one-hit ball over 3 ½ shutout innings to bail out a shaky Jeremy Guthrie, who gave up a pair of homers to Jose Abreu (ah-BRAY’-oo).
— Stephen Strasburg helped Washington get within 1 ½ games of the NL East-leading New York Mets by striking out 12 and collecting three hits in the Nationals’ 6-1 win against Colorado. Strasburg held the Rockies to a run and three hits in seven innings to win his first start since injuring his oblique on July 4. Wilson Ramos (RAH’-mohs) hit a two-run double and Ryan Zimmerman had two RBIs as the Nats won for only the third time in their last nine games.
— The Mets’ seven-game winning streak has ended with a 5-4 loss to Tampa Bay. Grady Sizemore hit a two-run homer in the Rays’ four-run first before Evan Longoria broke a 4-4 tie with an RBI single in the fourth. Curtis Granderson hit a pair of solo homers for New York.
— Jaime Garcia combined with two relievers on a two-hitter as St. Louis blanked Milwaukee 3-0. Garcia lowered his ERA to 1.77 by holding the Brewers to a pair of singles and four walks over seven innings. Matt Carpenter homered and Stephen Piscotty laced a pair of RBI singles as the NL Central-leading Cardinals maintained their six-game edge over Pittsburgh.
— Francisco Liriano was tagged for four runs in just three innings, but he also belted a three-run homer in the Pirates’ 6-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Neil Walker hit a solo shot and Andrew McCutchen was 3-for-3 with an RBI and one run scored to help the NL wild-card leaders stay 3 ½ games ahead of Chicago. Enrique Hernandez smacked a two-run shot for the Dodgers, who still lead the NL West by three games over San Francisco.
— The Cubs won for the ninth time in 10 games as rookie Kris Bryant hit a two-run homer and had three RBI’s in Chicago’s 8-6 triumph over the Giants. Dexter Fowler lined an RBI triple in a three-run eighth that put the Cubs ahead 8-3. Winning pitcher Kyle Hendricks gave up three runs in 5 1/3 innings as the Cubs moved 2 ½ games ahead of the Giants for the second NL wild-card berth.
— Prince Fielder’s two-run homer capped an eight-run 11th as Texas knocked off Seattle 11-3. Josh Hamilton snapped the 3-3 tie with an RBI single and scored on a two-run double by Chris Gimenez (JIH’-meh-nehz). Fielder and Gimenez each finished with three RBIs in the Rangers’ eighth victory in 10 games.
— Rajai Davis and Victor Martinez slammed two-run homers as Detroit outscored Boston 7-6. Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler had three hits and scored twice.
— Keyvius (KEE’-vuhs) Sampson picked up his first major league win by holding the Diamondbacks to a run and three hits in six innings of Cincinnati’s 4-1 triumph at Arizona. Eugenio (ay-you-HAY’-nee-oh) Suarez, Brandon Phillies and Marlon Byrd homered for the Reds.
— Nick Swisher hit a two-run double and turned a nifty, unassisted double play in Atlanta’s 7-2 verdict over Miami. Andrelton (AN’-drel-tuhn) Simmons also had two RBIs to back Mike Foltynewicz (fohl-TIH’-noh-vihch), who surrendered five hits and four walks but just two runs over 5 2/3 innings.
— Jerry Sands launched a grand slam and Abraham Almonte added a two-run shot as part of Cleveland’s 19-hit attack in a 17-4 drubbing of Minnesota. Jose Ramirez was 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored to help the Indians withstand home runs by Joe Mauer, Eddie Rosario and Kurt Suzuki.
— Odubel (oh-DO’-bul) Herrera delivered a pair of RBIs singles and Cesar Hernandez tripled home Philadelphia’s final run in a 4-2 decision over San Diego. Winning pitcher Adam Morgan gave up one earned run and six hits in six innings.
MLB
Setback for Span
UNDATED (AP) — Nationals center fielder Denard (deh-NARD’) Span has experienced a setback in his rehabilitation from a back injury that will delay his return from the disabled list. Span has been sidelined since July 7 and had said he was feeling good, but manager Matt Williams says Span’s back has stopped getting better.
The Nats have also placed second baseman Dan Uggla (UHG’-lah) on the 15-day disabled list with back spasms.
In other major league news:
— The Cleveland Indians have placed pitcher Cody Anderson on the 15-day disabled list with a strained muscle on his left side. The rookie right-hander is 2-3 with a 4.31 ERA in eight starts. Cleveland also called up outfielder Abraham Almonte and right-hander Shawn Armstrong from Triple-A Columbus and sent outfielder Tyler Holt to the same club.
— The ever-changing Toronto Blue Jays have acquired utilityman Cliff Pennington from Arizona for minor leaguer Dawel Lugo. The 31-year-old Pennington hit .237 with one home run and 10 RBIs in 72 games for Arizona.
FOOTBALL-HALL OF FAME
Eight inducted
CANTON, Ohio (AP) — The induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame has taken place in Canton, Ohio. The class of 2015 includes linebacker Junior Seau (SAY’-ow), receiver Tim Brown, defensive end Charles Haley, running back Jerome Bettis (BEHT’-ihs), guard Will Shields and center Mick Tingelhoff. Ron Wolf and Bill Polian were enshrined for their front office work.
Haley cracked jokes about some of his former owners between heartfelt disclosures of his battle with depression.
Tingelhoff didn’t say a word, instead letting Hall of Fame teammate Fran Tarkenton speak for him shortly after Tingelhoff’s bust was unveiled.
Shields joked he’s glad he didn’t grow another couple of inches because if he was taller he might have been moved to tackle and might not have ended up in Canton.
A huge throng of Steelers fans waved terrible towels as Bettis was introduced.
Seau’s daughter, Sydney, and his sons were on hand when their father’s bust was unveiled in Canton, more than three years after Seau took his own life.
SWIMMING-LEDECKY
Another world record for Ledecky
KAZAN, Russia (AP) — American teenager Katie Ledecky (leh-DEK’-ee) has lowered her own world record by 3.61 seconds in winning the 800-meter freestyle at the world swimming championships in Russia. Ledecky completed the 16-lap race in 8 minutes, 7.39 seconds, bettering her time of 8:11.00 set last year at a meet in the United States.
Ledecky completed a sweep of the 200, 400, 800 and 1,500 freestyles in Russia. She also swam the anchor leg on the victorious 4×200 free relay, giving her five golds with one day remaining in the meet.
Two years ago at the worlds in Barcelona, Spain, she won four gold medals and set two world records.
SWIMMING-PHELPS
Phelps has last word in rivalry with le Clos
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Michael Phelps has won the 100-meter butterfly at the U.S. nationals championships in San Antonio while forcing Chad le Clos to eat a little crow.
Phelps touched in 50.45 seconds, nearly a second faster than his gold-medal winning time at the London Olympics and faster than le Clos’ time at the world championships about eight hours earlier. Le Clos had been taunting Phelps on social media following his victory in Russia.
NASCAR-WATKINS GLEN
Qualifying at the Glen
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) — AJ Allmendinger has captured the pole for Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen International. He grabbed his fourth career pole with a fast lap of 127.839 mph to edge Martin Truex Jr.
Five-time Watkins Glen winner Tony Stewart qualified third, followed by Kevin Harvick and Jeff Gordon.
Gordon is NASCAR’s career leader in road course wins with nine, including four at The Glen.
GOLF-BRIDGESTONE INVITATIONAL
Scene set for last round in Akron
AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Second-round leader Jim Furyk (FYOOR’-ihk) and Justin Rose will be tied for the lead at 9-under when the final round of the Bridgestone Invitational begins on Sunday. Rose led the day with a 7-under-63, while Furyk shot a 1-under-69.
Shane Lowry will start the last round two shots off the pace.
Bubba Watson is 5-under, while Jordan Spieth (speeth) is at even-par after a 2-over-72.
GOLF-BARRACUDA CHAMPIONSHIP
Henry leads in Reno
RENO, Nev. (AP) — J.J. Henry birdied the final hole to take a one-point lead through three rounds of the Barracuda Championship, the PGA Tour’s only modified Stableford event.
Henry had a 41-point total at Montreux Golf and Country Club, scoring 17 points in the third round with nine birdies and a bogey.
David Toms and Sweden’s Jonas Blixt were tied for second.
GOLF-CHAMPIONS TOUR
Monty shares the lead with Jimenez
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — First round leader Colin Montgomerie and Miguel Angel Jimenez (AHN’-hehl hee-MEHN’-ehz) share the lead after 36-holes of the three-round Champions Tour Shaw Charity Classic. Jimenez grabbed his share of the lead with a 9-under-61, while Montgomerie shot a 66.
Each will start the final round at 12-under par, two ahead of Jeff Maggert.
