WPPA / T-102 SPORTS / Thursday

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Ryan Howard hit a three-run home run in the
10th inning after Philadelphia's bullpen blew yet another lead and
the Phillies bounced back to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-1 last
night. The Phillies have 12 out of the last 15 games. They get to
finish out the battle of Pennsylvania baseball tonight in the steel
city.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Pittsburgh Pirates have placed
right-hander Jeff Karstens on the 15-day disabled list with a lower
back problem that started bothering him more than two weeks
ago.Karstens was due to come off the bereavement list on Friday --
his grandmother died last week -- but yesterday's move means he
won't be activated again until Sept. 1.

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) - In the Little League World
Series, San Antonio, Texas advanced at the Little League World
Series with a 4-1 win last night over the kids from Staten Island.
So the Staten Island team has been officially eliminated. Texas
next plays Saturday in the U.S. final against either Georgia or
California.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Today Michael Vick will start his day in
bankruptcy court and end it on a football field. Vick is scheduled
to play his first NFL game since his release from prison, when the
Philadelphia Eagles host the Jacksonville Jaguars in a preseason
matchup tonight. It will be Vick's first official appearance in a
game since Dec. 31, 2006.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Philadelphia Eagles tailgaters will be out
in force long before Michael Vick takes the field for his first
game in more than two years. So will animal advocates. Dog lovers
are throwing a tailgate party for the 2nd Chance Dogs campaign to
increase awareness of dogfighting and encourage adoption of rescued
pit bulls.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Wednesday's Games
Cleveland 4, Kansas City 2
L.A. Angels 4, Detroit 2
N.Y. Yankees 9, Texas 2
Toronto 3, Tampa Bay 2
Boston 3, Chicago White Sox 2
Baltimore 5, Minnesota 1
Seattle 5, Oakland 3
Thursday's Games
Texas (Nippert 4-2) at N.Y. Yankees (A.Burnett 10-7), 1:05 p.m.
Cleveland (Laffey 7-3) at Baltimore (Da.Hernandez 4-6), 7:05
p.m.
Chicago White Sox (Danks 11-8) at Boston (Tazawa 2-2), 7:10 p.m.
Kansas City (Davies 4-9) at Seattle (Fister 1-0), 10:10 p.m.
Oakland (Cahill 6-12) at L.A. Angels (E.Santana 7-6), 10:25
p.m.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Wednesday's Games
Philadelphia 4, Pittsburgh 1, 10 innings
Florida 5, N.Y. Mets 3
San Diego 12, Atlanta 5
Cincinnati 4, Milwaukee 3, 10 innings
Chicago Cubs 9, Washington 4
St. Louis 3, Houston 2
L.A. Dodgers 6, Colorado 1
San Francisco 4, Arizona 3
Thursday's Games
N.Y. Mets (Redding 1-4) at Florida (A.Sanchez 2-4), 1:10 p.m.
Cincinnati (Lehr 2-1) at Milwaukee (Bush 3-4), 2:05 p.m.
Houston (Moehler 8-9) at St. Louis (C.Carpenter 14-3), 2:15 p.m.
Washington (J.Martin 2-3) at Chicago Cubs (R.Wells 9-6), 2:20
p.m.
L.A. Dodgers (V.Padilla 0-0) at Colorado (De La Rosa 12-8), 3:10
p.m.
Philadelphia (Happ 10-2) at Pittsburgh (Morton 3-6), 7:05 p.m.
San Diego (Richard 3-0) at Atlanta (J.Vazquez 10-9), 7:10 p.m.
Arizona (Y.Petit 2-8) at San Francisco (J.Martinez 3-1), 10:15
p.m.

NFL PRESEASON
Thursday's Games
Jacksonville at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
St. Louis at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Miami at Tampa Bay, 8 p.m.
Friday's Games
New England at Washington, 8 p.m.
Green Bay at Arizona, 10 p.m.

WNBA
Wednesday's Games
No games scheduled
Thursday's Games
San Antonio at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Atlanta at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Connecticut at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Phoenix at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.

MLS
Wednesday's Games
Real Salt Lake 4, Chivas USA 0
Saturday's Games
Toronto FC at Seattle FC, 4 p.m.
San Jose at New England, 7:30 p.m.
D.C. United at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Real Salt Lake at Kansas City, 8:30 p.m.
Chivas USA at Los Angeles, 11 p.m.