NEW YORK (AP) β The U.S. Open starts this morning in New York. This is the last Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year and defending men’s champ Rafael Nadal (rah-fay-ehl nah-DAHL’) is not participating. He suffered an injury in July that forced him to withdraw. Among those seeing action today are Simona Halep (HAL’-ehp), Maria Sharapova (shah-rah-POH’-vah) and Venus Williams for the women, while Novak Djokovic (NOH’-vak JOH’-kuh-vich), Stan Wawrinka (vah-VINK’-ah) and Andy Murray have first-round matches for the men.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) β The Nationals can build on their lead over the second-place Braves in the National League East tonight. The Nats start the day with an eight-game lead over Atlanta, which has the night off. Red-hot Washington, which has won 9 of its last 10 games, is in Philadelphia tonight for a game with the Phillies.
OAKLAND (AP) β The Angels won the third and final game of their weekend series against the Athletics in Oakland last night, 9-4. In doing so they regained first place over the A’s in the American League West, who with the loss fell a game back in the standings.
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) β Athletics closer Sean Doolittle has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right intercostal, a muscle in the rib cage. Doolittle, who saved two games against the Angels over the weekend, is 1-3 with 20 saves and a 2.28 ERA in 54 relief appearances.
ST. LOUIS (AP) β The St. Louis Rams have lost quarterback Sam Bradford for the season. He suffered a torn ACL in his left knee against the Browns in Saturday night’s exhibition game. This marks the second straight year he’s ripped up the knee. Bradford, the first overall pick of the 2010 draft, missed the last nine games last season after getting injured at Carolina.
