ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) β The Texas Rangers are the leaders in the American League West, moving a half-game ahead of Houston with a 6-5 win over the Astros. Mitch Moreland won it with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth after Adrian Beltre doubled home the tying run in the fourth. The Astros turned an early 4-0 deficit into a 5-4 before becoming the leaders for the second AL wild-card berth, 1 Β½ games ahead of Minnesota.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) β Steve Patterson has been dismissed after just 22 months as the University of Texas athletic director. Patterson hired football coach Charlie Strong and men’s basketball coach Shaka Smart, but he also raised ticket prices after Strong guided the Longhorns to a losing season in his first year. The ouster comes as Texas is seeking a lucrative new apparel contract once its current deal with Nike expires in 2016.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) β Eighth-ranked Notre Dame has lost another starting player for the season. Tight end Durham Smythe joins quarterback Malik Zaire (muh-LEEK’ ZY’-ear) as well as nose guard Jarron Jones and running back Tarean Folston on the sideline after tearing the MCL in his right knee late in the fourth quarter against Virginia. The Irish are facing No. 14 Georgia Tech this Saturday.
SAN DIEGO (AP) β CBS Sports is reporting that San Diego State’s basketball program is under investigation by the NCAA for potential rules violations that include possible improper benefits to recruits. Head coach Steve Fisher was hired by SDSU in 1999, two years after he was fired by Michigan because of the program’s involvement with booster Ed Martin. Fisher has turned the once-moribund Aztecs into a perennial Top 25 and NCAA tournament team.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) β The Green Bay Packers have placed Sam Barrington on season-ending injured reserve after the starting inside linebacker left the opener against Chicago with a foot injury. Defensive end Datone Jones was activated on Tuesday to replace Barrington on the roster.
