WPPA / T-102 SPORTS / Thursday

BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) - Michael Vick and the rest of the starters
are expected to play one quarter when the Philadelphia Eagles open
the preseason against the Baltimore Ravens tonight. Eagles coach
Andy Reid has a simple rotation. He's going to play the first unit
in the first quarter, the backups in the second and the
third-string in the third with the rest of the players fighting for
roster spots finishing up.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) - The Philadelphia Eagles agreed to terms
with former New York Giants wide receiver Steve Smith on a one-year
deal yesterday. Smith had 220 catches for 2,386 yards and 11
touchdowns in four seasons with the Giants.

LATROBE, Pa. (AP) - Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch are battling
it out for the final Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback spot. Each is
hoping to use the preseason as a chance to showcase why they should
be the one who sticks around. Dixon and Batch expect to get plenty
of snaps when the Steelers open the preseason tomorrow night.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Philadelphia Phillies overcame an early
six-run deficit and beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-8 yesterday for
a three-game sweep. Ryan Howard and Hunter Pence both homered. The
Phils won for the 12th time in 13 games and completed a 9-1 road
trip.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The Pittsburgh Pirates won their first
series in three weeks with a 9-2 victory over the San Francisco
Giants yesterday. Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run homer and Jeff
Karstens bounced back from his worst start of the season.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Derrek Lee
was scratched from the lineup with a recurring left hand injury.
Manager Clint Hurdle said yesterday Lee's hand was very sore after
he played the two previous nights against San Francisco following a
four-game absence with the bruised hand.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Jurgen Klinsmann's debut is out of the way.
All he needs now is a win. Klinsmann's debut coaching U.S. soccer
was bolstered by Robbie Rogers' tying goal late in the second half
to help the Americans salvage a 1-1 draw against Mexico last night.
Oribe Peralta scored for Mexico in a rematch of the Gold Cup final.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Penn State coach Joe Paterno has
returned to practice with his right arm in a sling. A photo on the
team's web site shows a smiling Paterno on a golf cart at practice
yesterday afternoon. The 84-year-old Hall of Famer injured his
shoulder and pelvis after a receiver blindsided him during drills
Sunday.

LONG POND, Pa. (AP) - Pocono Raceway will shorten its Sprint Cup
races to 400 miles starting in 2012. The races on the 2 1/2 mile track
had been 500 miles, drawing complaints from drivers and fans that
the events were too long. Track CEO Brandon Igdalsky says 400 miles
should make the races more exciting.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Wednesday's Games
Baltimore 6, Chicago White Sox 4, 10 innings
Cleveland 10, Detroit 3
N.Y. Yankees 9, L.A. Angels 3
Toronto 8, Oakland 4
Tampa Bay 8, Kansas City 7
Seattle 4, Texas 3
Minnesota 5, Boston 2
Thursday's Games
Kansas City (Duffy 3-5) at Tampa Bay (Niemann 6-4), 12:10 p.m.
Oakland (Moscoso 4-6) at Toronto (Mills 1-1), 12:37 p.m.
L.A. Angels (Chatwood 6-8) at N.Y. Yankees (Colon 8-6), 1:05
p.m.
Chicago White Sox (Buehrle 9-5) at Baltimore (Tillman 3-4), 7:05
p.m.
Detroit (Verlander 16-5) at Cleveland (Carmona 5-11), 7:05 p.m.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Wednesday's Games
Philadelphia 9, L.A. Dodgers 8
Pittsburgh 9, San Francisco 2
Atlanta 6, Florida 2
Cincinnati 3, Colorado 2
San Diego 9, N.Y. Mets 5
Chicago Cubs 4, Washington 2
Milwaukee 5, St. Louis 1
Arizona 6, Houston 3
Thursday's Games
San Diego (Luebke 4-6) at N.Y. Mets (Niese 11-8), 12:10 p.m.
Colorado (Chacin 9-8) at Cincinnati (Cueto 7-5), 12:35 p.m.
Washington (Zimmermann 7-9) at Chicago Cubs (Dempster 9-8), 2:20
p.m.
Milwaukee (Gallardo 13-7) at St. Louis (C.Carpenter 7-8), 8:15
p.m.
Houston (Myers 3-12) at Arizona (J.Saunders 8-9), 9:40 p.m.

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