NEW YORK (AP) β Two-time U.S. Open champion Serena Williams has reached the semifinals of this year’s tournament by beating No. 11 Flavia Pennetta 6-3, 6-2. Williams next faces No. 17 Ekaterina Makarova, who reached a Grand Slam semifinal for the first time by downing Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 6-2.
NEW YORK (AP) β It will be top seed Novak Djokovic (JOH’-koh-vihch) against Kei Mishikori (kay mih-shih-KOHR’-ee) in the U.S. Open men’s semifinals. Djokovic advanced with a 7-6, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 triumph over Andy Murray, a match that ended around 1:15 local time. The tenth-seeded Nishikori (kay nih-shih-KOHR’-ee) has become the first Japanese player in 81 years to reach the semis in a major by downing Australian Open champ and third seed Stan Wawrinka (vahv-RIHN’-kah) 3-6, 7-5, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4
UNDATED (AP) β The Kansas City Royals have stretched their lead in the AL Central to 1 Β½ games over Detroit. Alex Gordon hit a two-run homer and Jason Vargas pitched shutout ball in the Royals’ 4-1 triumph against the Rangers. Danny Salazar tossed his first career complete game by striking out nine and allowing eight hits in the Indians 7-0 shutout of Tigers, who now lead Seattle by just a half-game for the final AL wild-card berth.
UNDATED (AP) β The St. Louis Cardinals picked up their fifth straight win and increased their lead in the NL Central to three games over Milwaukee. The Cardinals completed a three-game sweep by beating Pittsburgh 1-0 on an RBI single by Peter Bourgos in the bottom of the ninth. Chris Valaika hit a two-run homer and Jorge Soler (soh-LEHR’) lined a two-run double as the Cubs handed the Brewers their eighth consecutive loss, 6-2.
UNDATED (AP) β The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to lead the NL West by two games over San Francisco after both teams lost yesterday. Adam LaRoche had five RBIs, including a tiebreaking groundout in the 14th inning as Washington pulled out an 8-5 win over the Dodgers. Nolan Arenado hit a go-ahead, three run homerun in the sixth inning and Corey Dickerson followed with his second homer of the game to lead the Rockies past the Giants 9-2 in Colorado.
