NEW YORK (AP) β Madison Bumgarner has become the sixth major league pitcher with 13 wins this season, improving to 13-8 by firing a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts in San Francisco’s 9-0 rout of the New York Mets. He also went 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored to help the Giants win for the third time in four games since a six-game skid. Hunter Pence hit two of San Francisco’s four homers to help the Giants climb within 2 Β½ games of the NL West-leading Dodgers.
ST. LOUIS (AP) β John Lackey was a winner in his St. Louis Cardinals debut while helping his new team pull within one game of Milwaukee for the NL Central lead. Lackey improved to 12-7 by allowing two runs and seven hits in seven innings of the Cardinals’ 3-2 win over the Brewers. Milwaukee led 2-0 until Matt Holliday sparked the Redbirds’ three-run seventh with a solo homer.
AKRON, Ohio (AP) β Rory McIlroy has followed his British Open victory with a comeback win at the Bridgestone Invitational at Akron, Ohio. McIlroy began the final round three shots behind Sergio Garcia before carding a 4-under 66 for a 15-under total, two strokes ahead of the Spaniard. McIlroy earned over $1.5 million dollars and reclaimed the No. 1 ranking from Adam Scott.
AKRON, Ohio (AP) β Tiger Woods had to withdraw from the final round of the Bridgestone Invitational yesterday after experiencing more back pain. Woods injured himself playing a shot from edge of a bunker on the par-5 second hole and took himself out of the tournament after eight holes. It was his third tournament since undergoing back surgery in March.
LONG POND, Pa. (AP) β Dale Earnhardt won the GoBowling.com 400 yesterday to complete a sweep of the two Sprint Cup races at Pocono Raceway. Earnhardt took the lead for good on a restart with three laps remaining and held off Kevin Harvick, who earned a berth in the Chase for the Championship. Joey Logano was third, followed by Clint Bowyer (BOY’-ur), Greg Biffle and Jeff Gordon.
