WPPA / T-102 SPORTS / Thursday

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The Phillies dropped their fifth straight
last night, losing to the Washington Nationals 7-5. Danny Espinosa
and Wilson Ramos each hit two-run homers in the win. For the
Phillies, the losing skid is their worst since May of last year.
Vance Worley took the loss to fall to 11-3.

PHOENIX (AP) - Miguel Montero had three hits -- including a
two-run home run -- as the Diamondbacks beat the Pirates 8-5
yesterday. The D-backs put pressure on the Pirates from the start,
setting a team record with four stolen bases while scoring three
runs off of loser Russ Ohlendorf in the first inning. Ohlendorf
falls to 1-3 with the loss.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Free-agent acquisition Ilya Bryzgalov made
his first appearance as a Flyer last night, getting 21 saves but
allowing goals to Juraj Mikus, Matt Frattin and Joe Colborne in a
4-2 exhibition loss to Toronto. Bryzgalov signed a nine-year, $51
million contract in June with the Flyers.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Evgeni Malkin had a goal and an assist in his
first NHL game action in more than seven months as the Penguins
downed the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 last night in the preseason opener
for both teams. Malkin hadn't played since February, when he tore
an ACL. Sidney Crosby did not play as he's not been cleared for
contact following a concussion last season.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Penn State coach Joe Paterno plans to
play both Rob Bolden and Matt McGloin Saturday when the Nittany
Lions take on Eastern Michigan. Penn State's defense has been
strong this season but the 2-1 Nittany Lions rank last in the Big
Ten in a number of offensive categories, and are the only team in
the league without a passing touchdown.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Steelers are still waiting to see the
arrival of their running game this season. At 1-1 after the NFL
season's first two weeks, the Steelers are 20th in the league in
rushing yards heading into Sunday's game against Indianapolis.
Running back Isaac Reedman says he expects things to even out as
the jumbled offensive line learns how to play together.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Gina Mancuso had 22 kills and Morgan
Broekhuis had 12 as Nebraska downed four-time defending national
champ Penn State in the Big Ten volleyball opener for both teams
last night. The 10th-ranked Cornhuskers won the first two sets
before the fifth-ranked Lions came back to win the third and fourth
games to force a fifth.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Wednesday's Games
N.Y. Yankees 4, Tampa Bay 2, 1st game
Chicago White Sox 8, Cleveland 4
N.Y. Yankees 4, Tampa Bay 2, 2nd game
L.A. Angels 7, Toronto 2
Baltimore 6, Boston 4
Detroit 6, Kansas City 3
Seattle 5, Minnesota 4
Texas 3, Oakland 2
Thursday's Games
Seattle (Beavan 5-5) at Minnesota (Swarzak 3-7), 1:10 p.m.
Texas (C.Lewis 13-10) at Oakland (Cahill 11-14), 3:35 p.m.
Baltimore (Britton 10-10) at Detroit (Ja.Turner 0-1), 7:05 p.m.
Chicago White Sox (Humber 9-8) at Cleveland (J.Gomez 4-2), 7:05
p.m.
Tampa Bay (M.Moore 0-0) at N.Y. Yankees (Colon 8-9), 7:05 p.m.
L.A. Angels (E.Santana 11-12) at Toronto (H.Alvarez 1-2), 7:07
p.m.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Wednesday's Games
Cincinnati 2, Houston 0
Chicago Cubs 7, Milwaukee 1
San Diego 4, Colorado 0
Arizona 8, Pittsburgh 5
Washington 7, Philadelphia 5
Florida 4, Atlanta 0
St. Louis 6, N.Y. Mets 5
San Francisco 8, L.A. Dodgers 5
Thursday's Games
N.Y. Mets (Capuano 11-12) at St. Louis (Westbrook 12-9), 1:45
p.m.
Washington (Peacock 1-0) at Philadelphia (Oswalt 8-9), 7:05 p.m.
Colorado (White 2-2) at Houston (Sosa 2-5), 8:05 p.m.
San Francisco (Bumgarner 12-12) at L.A. Dodgers (Kuroda 12-16),
10:10 p.m.

WNBA PLAYOFFS
Eastern Conference
Indiana 2, New York 1
Thursday, Sept. 15: Indiana 74, New York 72
Saturday, Sept. 17: New York 87, Indiana 72
Monday, Sept. 19: Indiana 72, New York 62
Atlanta 2, Connecticut 0
Friday, Sept. 16: Atlanta 89, Connecticut 84
Sunday, Sept. 18: Atlanta 69, Connecticut 64
Western Conference
Minnesota 2, San Antonio 1
Friday, Sept. 16: Minnesota 66, San Antonio 65
Sunday, Sept. 18: San Antonio 84, Minnesota 75
Tuesday, Sept. 20: Minnesota 85, San Antonio 67
Phoenix 2, Seattle 1
Thursday, Sept. 15: Seattle 80, Phoenix 61
Saturday, Sept. 17: Phoenix 92, Seattle 83
Monday, Sept. 19: Phoenix 77, Seattle 75

CONFERENCE FINALS
Eastern Conference
Indiana vs. Atlanta
Thursday, Sept. 22: Atlanta at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 25: Indiana at Atlanta, 3 p.m.
x-Tuesday, Sept. 27: Atlanta at Indiana, TBD
Western Conference
Minnesota vs. Phoenix
Thursday, Sept. 22: Phoenix at Minnesota, 9 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 25: Minnesota at Phoenix, 5 p.m.
x-Tuesday, Sept. 27: Phoenix at Minnesota, TBD

MLS
Wednesday's Games
D.C. United 2, Chivas USA 2, tie
Real Salt Lake 3, New York 1
Portland 1, San Jose 1, tie
Friday's Games
Philadelphia at Sporting Kansas City, 8:30 p.m.