WPPA / T-102 SPORTS / Tuesday

ATLANTA (AP) - The Atlanta Braves took another wrenching loss in
their September swoon, squandering an early two-run lead against
Cliff Lee as the playoff-bound Philadelphia Phillies rallied for a
4-2 victory last night. Lee pitched six strong innings, Jimmy
Rollins homered and Raul Ibanez drove in two runs.

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Alex Presley homered to lead off the game and
drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, lifting the
Pittsburgh Pirates to a 9-8 victory over the Brewers last night to
snap a 12-game skid in Milwaukee. Presley finished 3 for 5 with
three RBIs and closer Joel Hanrahan held on for his 40th save to
give Pittsburgh its fourth win in 40 tries over the last five years
at Miller Park.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Jaromir Jagr scored two power-play goals and
had three points, and Claude Giroux had three assists as the
Philadelphia Flyers outlasted the New York Rangers, 5-3, last
night. Jagr, a former Ranger making his first home appearance as a
Flyer, made a grand entrance in front of the faithful, and now has
three preseason goals.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - New York Rangers forward Sean Avery says
Wayne Simmonds of Philadelphia uttered a homophobic slur at him on
the ice. Avery told ESPN.com that Simmonds made the remark during
the first period of Philadelphia's 5-3 preseason win over the
Rangers last night. ESPN.com reported that a video replay showed
Simmonds issuing the epithet toward Avery near the Flyers bench.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Michael Vick says he won't complain about
the officials anymore. The star quarterback blasted officials after
injuring his right hand in Philadelphia's 29-16 loss to the New
York Giants on Sunday, saying he takes too many late hits without
getting the benefit of roughing-the-passer penalties.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says he
doesn't care how it looks, he's just happy to escape with a 23-20
win over Indianapolis Sunday night. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger
threw for 364 yards but fumbled twice and threw an interception.
Running back Rashard Mendenhall struggled once again, managing just
37 yards on 18 carries.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Sidney Crosby isn't the only superstar the
Pittsburgh Penguins are waiting on to return to form. Center Evgeni
Malkin, like Crosby, spent the second half of last season on the
sidelines with an injury. Unlike Crosby, Malkin will be ready to go
when the Penguins open the season next week.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The Philadelphia Flyers will host the New
York Rangers in the NHL Winter Classic on January 2nd at Citizens
Bank Park. The 45,000-seat ballpark is the setting for the fifth
classic. The game is not held on its traditional January 1st date
because it conflicted with the final week of the NFL's regular
season.


AMERICAN LEAGUE

Final Baltimore 6 Boston 3
Final Detroit 14 Cleveland 0
Final Tampa Bay 5 N-Y Yankees 2
Final Kansas City 7 Minnesota 3
Final Chi White Sox 4 Toronto 3
Final Texas 4 L.A. Angels 3
Final Seattle 4 Oakland 2


NATIONAL LEAGUE

Final Cincinnati 6 N-Y Mets 5
Final Philadelphia 4 Atlanta 2
Final Washington 6 Florida 4
Final Houston 5 St. Louis 4, 10 Innings
Final Pittsburgh 9 Milwaukee 8
Final L.A. Dodgers 4 Arizona 2
Final San Diego 2 Chi Cubs 0
Final San Francisco 3 Colorado 1


NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Final Dallas 18 Washington 16