MLB-SCHEDULE
Kershaw and Wacha return to the mound
UNDATED (AP) β Two of the top pitchers in baseball are in action tonight. In Los Angeles Clayton Kershaw gets the ball as the Dodgers entertain the Cubs. The lefty is 5-0 with a 0.90 earned run average in his last nine starts. The three-time Cy Young Award winner was 5-6 before the recent success. The game means a lot for each club as the Dodgers top the National League West by 2 Β½ games over the Giants while the Cubs top the Giants by 5 Β½ games for the final NL wild card berth.
The Giants are also in action tonight as they entertain the top team in baseball, St. Louis. The Cards are the only 80-game winner this season and they have 15-game winner Michael Wacha (WAH’-kuh) on the mound. With a win he would join Jake Arrieta (ehr-ee-ET’-uh) of the Cubs and San Francisco’s Madison Bumgarner as a 16-game winner this season.
The Yankees start the day 1 Β½ games back of the Blue Jays in the American League East race. This evening New York is in Atlanta to face the Braves while the red-hot Blue Jays are home to the Tigers.
The National League East-leading Mets are home to the Red Sox tonight. New York starts play with a 6 Β½-game advantage over second-place Washington in the division. The Nationals are home to the Marlins tonight.
The remaining games tonight feature Colorado playing in Pittsburgh, the Phillies home to the Padres, Kansas City at Tampa Bay, the Indians entertaining the Angels, Baltimore at Texas, the Twins hosting the Astros, Cincinnati at Milwaukee, Seattle in Chicago to play the White Sox and Oakland at Arizona.
MLB-YANKEES
Mitchell is back for Yanks
ATLANTA (AP) β The New York Yankees have reinstated rookie right-hander Bryan Mitchell from the seven-day concussion disabled list. Mitchell sustained a concussion and a broken nose when he was struck by a line drive hit by Minnesota’s Eduardo Nunez on Aug. 17. The 24-year-old pitcher was making his third major league start. He is 0-1 with one save and a 3.86 ERA in 10 games this season.
MLB-NATIONALS
Nats lose Span
WASHINGTON (AP) β Nationals center fielder Denard (deh-NARD’) Span will have surgery on his left hip next week and is likely out for the season.
Washington manager Matt Williams said Friday that Span had problems in the labrum. The surgery is set for Tuesday.
The 31-year-old Span already has missed 52 games in two stints on the disabled list with back and abdominal ailments.
MLB-MARINERS
Seattle cans GM
SEATTLE (AP) β The Seattle Mariners have fired general manager Jack Zduriencik (zur-EHN’-sihk). He held the job for seven seasons but the team didn’t make the playoffs during his tenure. Assistant general manager Jeff Kingston will take over on an interim basis.
Seattle had just two winning seasons during Zduriencik’s tenure. The Mariners entered this season expected to end a 14-year playoff drought, but instead the club has floundered and began the day 10 games under .500 and 12 games behind Houston in the AL West.
PGA-THE BARCLAYS
Three share lead
EDISON, N.J. (AP) β British Open champ Zach Johnson has joined Henrik Stenson and Tony Finau are clubhouse co-leaders in the second round of The Barclays. All are at 6-under par.
Johnson shot a 5-under 65, while Stenson turned in a 66 and Finau posted a 69.
LPGA-YOKOHAMA
Ernst grabs lead
PRATTVILLE, Ala. (AP) β Austin Ernst had eight birdies and an eagle on the way to a 7-under 65 and the clubhouse lead late in the second round of the LGPA’s Yokohama Tire Classic. She stands 9-under for the tournament.
Lexi Thompson shot a 67 and trails by a stroke.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Goydos, Sauers tied for lead
ENDICOTT, N.Y. (AP) β Paul Goydos and Gene Sauers shot 6-under 66s to tie for the lead after the opening round of the Champions Tour’s Dick’s Sporting Goods Open. Former champ John Huston was a stroke back along with Ian Woosnam.
Defending champion Bernhard Langer had a 71.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL-ILLINOIS
Big-10 school fires football coach
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) β Tim Beckman has been fired as football coach at Illinois. The school cites the preliminary results of an investigation into allegations of player mistreatment and inappropriate behavior. The school’s athletic director says it was better to dismiss Beckman now than wait for the release of the full investigation potentially during the season.
Beckman was 12-25 in three seasons at Illinois, improving the team’s record each season. The Illini went 6-7 last year.
NHL-OBIT
Al Arbour dies
UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) β Al Arbour, the longtime coach of the New York Islanders, has passed away at the age of 82. He led the Islanders to four straight Stanley Cup championships.
Arbour, who was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996, ranks as the NHL’s second-most winningest coach. His death was announced by team officials.
The cause of death is unclear, though Arbor was battling a lengthy illness.
Before getting behind the bench Arbour had a 14-season career in the NHL as a defenseman. Beginning in 1973-74, as coach, he led the Isles to 15 playoff appearances and won an NHL record 119 playoff games over 19 seasons.
TENNIS-U.S. OPEN
Williams a big draw
NEW YORK (AP) β With Serena Williams looking to complete a Grand Slam, officials at the U.S. Open have announced that the women’s final has sold out before the men’s title match. It’s believed this is the first time it’s happened.
Williams has already won the Australian and French Opens as well as Wimbledon and is looking to become the first winner of all four majors in one year since Steffi Graf (grahf) in 1988. She also would tie Graf with the most major titles in the Open era with 22.
