REDS-PHILLIES
Phillies 6, Reds 5, 14 innings
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Aaron Rowand's R-B-I single with one out in the 14th inning lifted the surging Philadelphia Phillies over the Cincinnati Reds, 6-to-5. The Phillies overcame deficits in the eighth and ninth innings to win for the seventh time in ten games. David Dellucci led off the 14th with a single against Elizardo Ramirez, who was supposed to start Saturday night. Ramirez took the loss. He's 4-and-9. The Reds used nine pitchers, including starters Aaron Harang and Ramirez. All of Cincinnati's relievers pitched except Rheal Cormier, who has been used often in the past week.
Edwin Encarnacion homered twice and drove in three runs for the Reds. Fultz is 3-and-0 with the win in relief. The teams play again tonight.
CARDINALS-PIRATES
Pirates blow out Cardinals 7-1
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Zach Duke struck out seven in his second complete game of the season and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-to-1 to end their five- game losing streak. Nate McLouth drove in three runs with a home run and triple.
Duke improved to 8-and-10. He had been winless in three starts since July 19th. Duke outpitched Jeff Suppan, who fell to 9-and-7. The Cardinals dropped their third in five games on their current road trip. They've lost eleven of their last 15. The teams continue their series tonight.
PIRATES MOVES
Pirates bring up Reames from Triple-A
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Right-hander Britt Reames joined the Pittsburgh Pirates from Triple-A Indianapolis yesterday to replace reliever Josh Sharpless. Sharpless went on the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained right ankle. The 32-year-old Reames was 4-and-2 with a 2-point-seven-nine E-R-A in eleven starts and had a four-point-five E-R-A in two relief appearances at Indianapolis. Sharpless, a rookie, was hurt fielding a ground ball Wednesday night in Houston
RED SOX-RED BARONS
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 4, Pawtucket 3
MOOSIC, Pa. (AP) - Jim Rushford hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to give the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons a 4-3 win over the Pawtucket Red Sox last night.
Clay Condrey pitched one inning to earn the win for the Red Barons. Matt Smith pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save. Trent Durrington had two hits, including a two-run home run for the Red Sox. Tim Bausher pitched two innings in relief to take the loss. The series continues this afternoon.
EAGLES-RUNNING BACKS
More injuries deplete Eagles' backfield
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - In a week, Marty Johnson went from playing cards and video games to being the Philadelphia Eagles' leading rusher. When the team returns to practice at Lehigh University today, Johnson could be running with the first-team offense. Johnson was working a nine-to-five job after being released by the Denver Broncos when the Eagles signed him earlier this week to provide depth to an injury-depleted backfield. He practiced with the team twice and ran for 47 yards on 12 carries in last night's preseason win over Cleveland. The Eagles already were without Ryan Moats and Correll Buckhalter when starter Brian Westbrook and Bruce Perry got hurt in the team's preseason opener against Oakland. Reno Mahe started against the Browns and ran seven times for ten yards, before sustaining a concussion last night. Fullbacks Jason Davis and Thomas Tapeh (TA-pay) split the carries until Johnson entered in the second half.
COPE CRASH
Former Steelers broadcaster Cope in chain reaction crash
PITTSBURGH (AP) - State police say former Pittsburgh Steelers radio broadcaster Myron Cope caused a five-vehicle fender-bender on Interstate 279 today and will probably be cited for following a vehicle too closely. Cope retired before last season after health problems in recent years. Police say Cope and those in other vehicles weren't hurt. Trooper Robin Mungo says Cope rear-ended a car as the vehicles
approached the Fort Pitt Tunnel, and that car then struck a truck in front of it.
Cope then swerved left to avoid those vehicles, and hit another in the rear end which, in turn, rear-ended a fifth vehicle. Mungo says Cope's regular vehicle was in the shop, so he was driving a Ford Explorer that was rented or loaned to him. Cope told police the brakes weren't working, but police checked believe Cope was just unaccustomed to driving the S-U-V.
PITT'S FAB FROSH
Pitt's transformation to new players similar to 1973
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Maybe there's not a Tony Dorsett or a Bill Fralic in the bunch, both players who were known nationally before enrolling at Pitt and went on to great college careers. Less than a week into summer camp, though, it seems that Pitt's 27 freshmen have the potential to be the best such group at Pittsburgh since Dorsett's in 1973. That class was greatly responsible from transforming the Panthers from one-game winners in 1972 to unbeaten national champions in 1976. Maybe the names aren't well known yet outside of recruiting circles, Pitt's fan base and opposing Big East teams, but coach Dave Wannstedt didn't bring them to campus to let them sit. That means the Pitt team that takes the field September Second against Virginia may not closely resemble the one that ended last season with an embarrassing 45-13 loss at West Virginia.
AP-Sports Right Now
Update on the latest in sports:
MLB-FINAL SCORES
White Sox win opener against Tigers...Dodgers increase lead in
West
UNDATED (AP) - Jose Contreras pitched a three-hitter for his first career shutout and the Chicago White Sox ended Justin Verlander's seven-game winning streak and beat the Detroit Tigers 5-to-0. Jim Thome (TOH'-mee) and A.J. Pierzynski homered. Contreras is 11-and-4. He didn't give up a hit until Curtis Granderson doubled with two outs in the sixth in the opener of a three-game series between the team with the best record in baseball and the defending World Series champions. The White Sox cut Detroit's lead in the A-L Central to seven and a-half games and sent the Tigers to their third straight loss.
In the rest of the A-L:
-- Grady Sizemore sliced a bases-loaded triple in the ninth inning and the Cleveland Indians rallied from three runs down to beat Kansas City, 4-to-3. The Indians won their third in a row and stopped Kansas City's three-game winning streak.
-- David Wells benefited from a seven-run third inning to earn his first victory of an injury-riddled season and Boston ended its five-game losing streak by beating Baltimore, 9-to-2. The Red Sox are 16-and-16 since July fifth. They had lost five in a row toTampa Bay and Kansas City, a pair of last-place teams.
-- The New York Yankees' lead in the A-L East is down to two games after they lost to the L-A Angels, 7-to-4. Joe Saunders won his fourth straight start since stepping into for the injured Bartolo Colon.
-- A.J. Burnett struck out a season-high ten and the Toronto Blue Jays routed the Minnesota Twins, 7-to-1. Reed Johnson and John McDonald hit two-run homers.
-- Texas slammed Seattle, 14-to-7. Mark DeRosa had three hits and for the second time this week drove in six runs in a game.
-- Bobby Kielty's (KEEL'-teez) two-run homer in the fifth inning lifted the Oakland Athletics past Tampa Bay, 5-to-2.
Over in the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers have a game and a-half lead over Arizona and San Diego in the Western Division. The Dodgers nipped last-place San Francisco 3-to-2 last night. Julio Lugo's eighth-inning sacrifice fly snapped a tie. The Dodgers have won 13 of their 14 as they have ascended from last to first in
the N-L West. The Dodgers improved to 11-and-15 in one-run games.
In the rest of the N-L:
-- The Pittsburgh Pirates surprised the St. Louis Cardinals, 7-to-1. Zach Duke struck out seven in his second complete game of the season. The Pirates ended their five game losing streak. The Cardinals have lost eleven of their last 15.
-- Philadelphia beat Cincinnati 6-to-5 in 14 innings. Aaron Rowand's single drove in the winning run. The Phillies have won seven of their last ten. The Reds kept their scant half-game lead in the N-L wild-card as both Arizona and San Diego also lost.
-- Florida beat Arizona, 4-to-1. Livan Hernandez, just acquired from Washington, went eight innings but lost in his first Diamondbacks appearance.
-- Washington nipped the New York Mets, 2-to-1. Rookie Billy Traber won his second game of the year with seven strong innings. Traber, Jon Rauch (rawsh) and Chad Cordero combined on a five-hitter.
-- Atlanta topped Milwaukee, 2-to-1. Jeff Francoeur double in the bottom of the ninth scored the winner run off Brewers closer
Derrick Turnbow. John Smoltz pitched a five-hitter for his tenth win.
-- Andy Pettitte hit his first career homer and matched a season high with ten strikeouts in the Houston Astros' 4-to-2 win over San Diego.
-- Garrett Atkins hit a three-run homer and the Colorado Rockies coasted to a 10-to-2 win over the Chicago Cubs. Ryan Spilborghs had three R-B-I's in his return to the majors.
NASCAR-QUALIFYING
NASCAR hits the Glen
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) - Kurt Busch had the fastest time in qualifying for tomorrow's NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Watkins Glen. Kasey Kahne (KAYN), Ryan Newman, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson round out the top five. A year ago Tony Stewart took the checkered flag in this event. Jimmie Johnson was the winner of last Sunday's race in Indianapolis. Johnson qualified fifth. Johnson holds a 107-point lead over second-place Matt Kenseth, who qualified 30th.
CHAMP CAR-QUALIFYING
Champ Car circuit hits Denver
DENVER (AP) - The Grand Prix (pree) of Denver takes place tomorrow on the Champ Car circuit with Sebastian Bourdais (bohr-DAY') set to defend his title. He won the last race on the schedule, on July 30th in San Jose.
DA MATTA-UPDATE
Champ car driver still in bad shape
DENVER (AP) - Champ Car driver Cristiano da Matta of Brazil still can't respond to commands from his doctor or family. The 32-year-old suffered a severe head injury when the race car he was driving hit a deer. Chris Pinderski, the Champ Car medical director, says da Matta is no longer under sedation and is making progress.
PGA-INTERNATIONAL
Sheehan leads as second round delayed by weather
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (AP) - Patrick Sheehan's five birdies offset two bogeys and gave him eight points for the day and 18 for two rounds at the P-G-A International. This is the P-G-A Tour event that uses the modified Stableford point scoring system.
Sheehan's 18 points leads Ian Leggatt by one point. Sergio Garcia is two back. David Howell and Harrison Frazar are four off the lead. Half the field of 140 was still on the course when a heavy thunderstorm caused a delay of more than three and a-half hours.
Many of the golfers will have to return early today to try to make the cut.
LPGA-CANADIAN WOMEN'S OPEN
Stanford continues to lead
LONDON, Ontario (AP) - Angela Stanford shot a two-under 70 and maintained her three-shot lead at the Canadian Women's Open. Stanford is ten under par for her 36 holes. She opened her second round with two birdies and then had pars on her final 16 holes. Cristie Kerr and Jee Young Lee were tied for second after both shot 70s. Canadian star Lorie Kane was another stroke back.
NBA-ROBINSON
Nets bring back forward
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - The New Jersey Nets are bringing back forward Clifford Robinson for his 19th N-B-A campaign. Robinson was suspended during last season's playoffs for violating the league drug policy. Nets' president Rod Thorn says he has complete confidence in the 39-year-old Robinson, who once registered a 50-point performance in an N-B-A game. His career average is 14-point six points and
four-point-six rebounds with five different teams.
BASKETBALL-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Yao returns
NANJING, China (AP) - Yao Ming has returned to the Chinese national basketball team after a four-month layoff because of an injured foot. That's the good news for the Chinese club as it prepares for the upcoming World Championships. In a warmup game, China was beaten by Germany 82-to-73. Ming had eleven points.
NFL-BROWNS HALLEN
Hallen surprised Browns with retirement...Steelers' rookie trial
postponed
UNDATED (AP) - The Cleveland Browns are scrambling to fill the center position of their offensive line that has been already ravaged by injuries. They were counting on veteran offensive lineman Bob Hallen to replace the injured LeCharles Bentley. Hallen
made other plans. He told the Browns he's retiring at age 31. Hallen sent a letter to the team and did not give a reason for the decision. Browns G-M Phil Savage says the news was "stunning" to the team because it came so abruptly.
In other N-F-L news:
-- The domestic violence trial for rookie Santonio Holmes of the Pittsburgh Steelers has been postponed. He is charged with assaulting the mother of one of his three children. The trial was originally slated to begin next Tuesday but has been pushed back to
August 24th.
-- The Super Bowl champs will have their star quarterback but the Arizona Cardinals will be without their big-name rookie for their preseason opener today. Amid the fanfare of the grand opening of Cardinals Stadium, Ben Roethlisberger (RAWTH'-lis-bur-gur) will be at the controls of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense. It comes two
months after sustaining serious head and facial injuries in a motorcycle crash.
CLARETT-HEARING
Judge orders mental health evaluation
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett will undergo a mental health evaluation prior to the start of his trial on robbery charges. A judge in Columbus, Ohio ordered the evaluation. When the judge announced his decision, Clarett scoffed, smiled and rolled his head back. The former running back was arrested early Wednesday when police found four guns in his vehicle after a highway chase. The robbery charges stem from an earlier incident. That trial, due to start Monday, has been delayed until next month.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL-WISCONSIN
Stocco's status up in air after surgery
MADISON, Wisc. (AP) - Senior quarterback John Stocco of the Wisconsin Badgers had surgery on his right knee and his status for the upcoming season is uncertain. Stocco set school records for passing yards, touchdown passes, pass completions and total offensive yards last season.
NHL-OILERS SYKORA
Free agent signs with Edmonton
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) - The Edmonton Oilers signed forward Petr Sykora to a one-year deal. He scored 23 goals and had 28 assists last season with Anaheim and the New York Rangers. It was his eleventh straight season of scoring 20 or more goals.
SOCCER-BECKHAM
English star dropped
LONDON (AP) - Veteran English soccer star David Beckham has been dropped from the national team by coach Steve McClaren. Beckham stepped down as captain of the club last month and said he still wanted to play. McClaren, getting ready for his first match in charge of the team, failed to include Beckham's name for the squad to play Greece next Wednesday.
TENNIS-WOMEN'S
Serena Williams and Sharapova in the semifinals
CARSON, Calif. (AP) - Serena Williams overcame the heat and her second three-set match in 17 hours to beat Meghann Shaughnessy 6-7, 6-1, 6-4 and advance to the J-P Morgan Chase Open semifinals. Williams is playing her second tournament after a six-month layoff because of a left knee injury. Williams is unseeded and ranked 110th in the world two weeks before the U.S. Open begins. Jelena Jankovic (yeh-LAY'-nah YANK'-uh-vich) and Elena Dementieva (dee-mehn-tee-AY'-vuh) also reached the semifinals. Maria Sharapova is seeking her second title in as many weeks. She downed fifth-seeded Dinara Safina of Russia 6-2, 6-4 to reach the semifinals.
TENNIS-MEN'S
Upsets in Toronto
TORONTO (AP) - Richard Gasquet (gas-KAY') and Andy Murray both beat seeded players to advance to the semifinals of the Rogers Cup. Gasquet upset Tomas Berdych (bur-DICH') 6-4, 6-1. Murray rallied to beat Jarkko Nieminen (YAR'-koh nee-MIH'-nin) 6-4, 6-7, 6-3. They will play each other today. Gasquet needed only 66 minutes to
complete the victory. Top-ranked Roger Federer downed Xavier Malisse 7-6, 6-7, 6-3.
Federer has won 52 straight matches in North America in a span of more than two years. Number-15 Fernando Gonzalez filled out the final four by beating Jose Acasuso.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Boston 9 Baltimore 2
Final Cleveland 4 Kansas City 3
Final L.A. Angels 7 N-Y Yankees 4
Final Toronto 7 Minnesota 1
Final Chi White Sox 5 Detroit 0
Final Texas 14 Seattle 7
Final Oakland 5 Tampa Bay 2
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Philadelphia 6 Cincinnati 5, 14 Innings
Final Washington 2 N-Y Mets 1
Final Pittsburgh 7 St. Louis 1
Final Atlanta 2 Milwaukee 1
Final Houston 4 San Diego 2
Final Colorado 10 Chi Cubs 2
Final Florida 4 Arizona 1
Final L.A. Dodgers 3 San Francisco 2
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PRESEASON
Final Detroit 20 Denver 13
Final Tampa Bay 16 N-Y Jets 3
Final Atlanta 26 New England 23
Final N-Y Giants 17 Baltimore 16
Final San Francisco 28 Chicago 14
WNBA BASKETBALL
Final Washington 78 Detroit 66
Final Indiana 87 Connecticut 68
Final New York 64 Charlotte 62
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-08-12-06 0214EDT
