NASCAR-WATKINS GLEN
Stewart won’t race today
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) β Tony Stewart has pulled out of today’s NASCAR race at Watkins Glen, hours after killing a dirt track racer during a race in upstate New York. The three-time champion struck and killed Kevin Ward Jr., who had climbed from his car and was on the darkened dirt track trying to confront Stewart during a race.
Regan Smith will drive Stewart’s car instead.
Ward had crashed following contact with Stewart one lap earlier and got out of his car as it was stopped along the fence. Video of the incident showed Ward walking from his crashed car onto the racing surface as cars circled by, and, as he gestured at Stewart’s passing car, he was struck.
Authorities questioned Stewart but said no criminal charges were imminent. Ontario County Sheriff Philip Povero said Stewart was “visibly shaken” and had been cooperative in the investigation. Authorities were asking spectators and others to turn over any video they recorded of the crash.
Sprint Cup points leader Jeff Gordon earned the pole for today’s race at Watkins Glen, edging out Marcus Ambrose for the top spot.
GOLF-PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
McIlroy looking for another major
LOUISVILLE. Ky. (AP) β Rory McIlroy takes a one-shot lead into today’s final round of the 96th PGA Championship. The British Open champion birdied the 18th hole en route to a 4-under 67 to move 13 under par after three rounds at the final major of the season. McIlroy has a streak of seven straight rounds under par in his last two majors.
Relative unknown Bernd Wiesberger (WEES’-bur-gur) of Austria, who has made the cut in just two majors, is one shot back following his 7-under 64. Rickie Fowler is alone in third. Phil Mickelson and Jason Day are tied for fourth at 10 under.
LPGA-MEIJER LPGA CLASSIC
Park remains the one to beat
BELMONT, Mich. (AP) β Inbee Park shot a 3-under 68 yesterday and starts today’s final round of the LPGA’s Meijer (MAY’-ur) Classic with a one-shot lead. She is 13-under after three rounds while Miriam Lee is second after a 67. Suzann Pettersen (PEHT’-ur-suhn) is two back of the leader.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Braves and Nats on tap tonight
UNDATED (AP) β There is a good matchup for tonight’s MLB Sunday Night game. In Atlanta the Braves are taking on the Nationals in the third and final game of their series. The Braves won the opener Friday night while the Nats won last night. The Nationals top the Braves by 4 1/2 games in the National League East standings.
As far as key games this afternoon, the Brewers and Dodgers are putting the final touches on their three-game series in Milwaukee. The Brewers won the first two games of the series and as the new day of play begins the Brewers lead the National League Central by 2 1/2 games while the Dodgers top the NL West by 3 Β½.
Baltimore is the top team in the American League East while St. Louis is three games back of Milwaukee in the NL Central. They are meeting in the third game of their series with Baltimore having won the first two.
American League Central leader Detroit concludes a three-game series in Toronto this afternoon. The Tigers got the opener Friday night while the Jays won yesterday. In the AL East the Blue Jays are tied with the Yankees for second place, six games back of the Orioles.
MLB-INDIANS
Tribe loses two to DL
NEW YORK (AP) β The Cleveland Indians have put outfielder David Murphy and designated hitter-first baseman Nick Swisher on the 15-day disabled list. Murphy, who has been bothered by soreness on his right side, tweaked his oblique on a swing Saturday. Swisher has been slowed because of an ailing right knee.
The Indians have recalled outfielder Tyler Holt and infielder-outfielder Zach Walters from Triple-A Columbus.
NCAA-LAWSUIT
NCAA to appeal
UNDATED (AP) β The president of the NCAA, Mark Emmert, said on ABC’s “This Week With George Stephanopoulos” that the NCAA will appeal a ruling that opens the door for college athletes to receive some of the money they help generate in major sports. In his first public comments since Friday’s ruling, Emmert said that college sports’ largest governing body found a lot in the decision that was “admirable” but some parts they disagreed with so strongly that they could not let it go unchallenged in court.
TENNIS-MONTREAL
Williams beats Williams
MONTREAL (AP) β In the final of the Rogers Cup in Montreal, Venus Williams is facing Agnieszka Radwanska (ahg-nee-ESH’-kuh rahd-VAHN’-skuh) today. Williams defeated her sister Serena 6-7, 6-2, 6-3 for her first win in the sibling rivalry in more than five years to advance to the final.
TENNIS-TORONTO
Tsonga advances
TORONTO (AP) β Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (SAHNG’-guh) and Roger Federer are squaring off in the final of the Rogers Cup event in Toronto. Tsonga is on a roll as he beat top-ranked Novak Djokovic (NOH’-vak JOH’-kuh-vich) on Thursday and eighth-seeded Andy Murray on Friday to reach the semifinals in the hard-court event.
