MLB-FINAL SCORES
Phils back in control in NL East...600 saves for Hoffman
UNDATED (AP) — The two-time National League champion Philadelphia Phillies have overtaken Atlanta to take a half-game lead in the NL East.
Placido Polanco (PLAH'-sih-doh poh-LAHN'-koh) hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning and the Phillies beat the Florida Marlins 8-7 to move into first place. They're seeking their fourth straight NL East title.
Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez (rah-OOL' ih-BAHN'-yehz) and Shane Victorino each hit a solo homer for the Phillies, who were seven games behind the Braves on July 22.
In the rest of the NL:
— Ronny Cedeno's (suh-DAYN'-yohz) triple keyed a five-run seventh and the last-place Pittsburgh Pirates beat the slumping Atlanta Braves for the second straight day, winning 5-0. The Braves had been in sole possession of the division lead every day since May 31.
— All-time career saves leader Trevor Hoffman earned his 600th save by pitching a scoreless ninth inning in the Milwaukee Brewers' 4-2 win over St. Louis. Hoffman retired Aaron Miles on a groundout and was mobbed by his teammates before a roaring crowd at Miller Park after the historic save.
— Tim Lincecum (LINZ'-ih-kuhm) struck out 11, three San Francisco players homered and the Giants beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-3 to keep up the pressure on San Diego in the NL West. The Giants have won four straight and six of seven.
— San Diego kept its one-game edge on the Giants by nipping the L.A. Dodgers 2-1. After losing 10 straight, the Padres have won two in a row. Mat Latos (LAY'-tohs) bounced back from stomach flu to strike out 10 for his 14th victory.
— Jhoulys Chacin (joh-LEES' cha-SEEN') pitched six strong innings and the rolling Colorado Rockies beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 for their fifth consecutive win. Carlos Gonzalez hit a three-run homer.
— Michael Bourn had three hits and three RBIs, Brett Wallace hit his first career home run and Houston beat the Chicago Cubs 7-3.
— The New York Mets beat Washington 4-1. Rookie Dillon Gee and three relievers combined on a four-hitter. Gee took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of his major league debut.
Over in the AL:
— The Baltimore Orioles denied their nemesis, CC Sabathia, his 20th victory with a 6-2 win over the New York Yankees. Jake Arrieta earned his second win in 10 starts. Adam Jones had a two-run single in a three-run first. Sabathia fell to 19-and-6 overall. He came in 4-and-0 this season and 13-and-1 overall against the Orioles, but the big lefty was roughed up from the start in the Yankees' third straight loss.
— Tampa Bay has moved within a game and a-half of AL East-leading New York by routing Boston 14-5. The Rays hit five home runs to support David Price's 17th victory.
— Vernon Wells hit two home runs, Adam Lind and John Buck also connected and the Toronto Blue Jays beat Texas 8-5 for their seventh consecutive victory over the Rangers. Texas has lost five straight but still has a comfortable lead in the AL West.
— Justin Verlander allowed five hits over seven innings and the Detroit Tigers ended the Chicago White Sox's seven-game winning streak, 9-1.
— Minnesota increased its lead in the AL Central to four and a-half games over the White Sox by routing Kansas City 10-3. Delmon Young drove in four.
— Adam Moore homered and the Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics 7-5. The Mariners had lost six straight in Oakland.
— Cleveland topped the L.A. Angels 6-1. Travis Hafner hit a go-ahead homer that was upheld by video replay and No. 9 batter Lou Marson broke the game open later in the sixth inning with his first career grand slam.
TENNIS-U.S. OPEN
Venus into the semifinals...Red, white and out...Nadal into the quarters
NEW YORK (AP) — Venus Williams has taken another step toward her eighth Grand Slam title.
The third-seeded Williams moved within one victory of reaching the U.S. Open final for the first time since 2002. Williams overcame nine double-faults and beat reigning French Open champion Francesca Schiavone (fran-CHES'-kuh skee-ah-VOH'-nay) 7-6, 6-4 in the Open quarterfinals Tuesday night.
The 30-year-old Williams won the U.S. Open in 2000 and 2001. But she last made the semifinals at Flushing Meadows in 2007, and hasn't played in the title match in eight years.
Williams is the only American singles player left in tournament.
Women's defending champion and second seed Kim Clijsters (KLY'-sturz) of Belgium will play Williams in the semifinal. Clijsters defeated fifth-seed Sam Stosur of Australia 6-4, 5-7, 6-3. Williams and Clijsters have split their 12 previous meetings.
There are no Americans left in the men's draw of the U.S. Open. No. 20 seed Sam Querrey (KWEHR'-ee) has been eliminated by 25th-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka (vah-VINK'-ah) of Switzerland, 7-6, 6-7, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.
It marks the second straight year that no American man will make the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows.
Twelfth-seeded Mikhail Youzhny (YOOS'-nee) of Russia beat Tommy Robredo (roh-BRAY'-doh) 7-5, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to advance to the quarters. The 41st-ranked Robredo was the lowest-ranked man left in the draw and one of a record six Spanish men to reach the fourth round at Flushing Meadows.
Fernando Verdasco posted a thrilling 5-7, 6-7, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 match over 10th-seed David Ferrer (feh-REHR') in an all-Spaniard match that lasted four hours, 23 minutes.
Men's top-seed Rafael Nadal (rah-fay-ehl nah-DAHL') beat fellow Spaniard and 23rd seed Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in a match that didn't end until the wee hours in the Big Apple.
T25 FOOTBALL-AP POLL
Broncos pick up ground
NEW YORK (AP) — Boise State gained seven first-place votes and closed in on No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Ohio State as the top three teams in the first regular season Associated Press football poll held their spots from the preseason.
Boise State received eight first-place votes and 1,399 points from the media panel after a thrilling 33-30 victory against then-No. 10 Virginia Tech on Monday night. The Broncos are 13 points behind the Buckeyes, who received four first-place votes and 1,412 points.
Alabama got 47 first-place votes, down seven from the preseason, and is 72 points clear of Ohio State.
TCU moves up two spots to No. 4 and Texas remains No. 5 with one first-place vote.
Nebraska is No. 6, with Oregon, Florida, Iowa and Oklahoma rounding out the top 10.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL-BUSH/HEISMAN
Report says Bush will forfeit Heisman
NEW YORK (AP) — Yahoo! sports is reporting that 2005 Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush is expected to be stripped of the award by the end of the month.
The former Southern Cal running back would become the first player in the 75-year history of the award to have the Heisman Trophy taken away. The report also says the award would be left vacant for '05. But Robert Whalen, executive director of the Heisman Trophy Trust, has told The Associated Press that no decision has been made.
The NCAA found major violations in USC's football program and levied serious sanctions against the school in June.
Bush now plays for the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints.
NFL-NEWS
Parcells stepping back...Haynesworth trade talk
MIAMI (AP) — Bill Parcells is turning over control of the Miami Dolphins to general manager Jeff Ireland but will retain a role as a daily consultant. Parcells has been with the Dolphins since 2007 as executive VP of football operations.
According to a three-sentence statement released five days before the start of the season, the change is part of a long-range plan put in place when the Parcells regime took over at the end of the 2007 season.
The Dolphins say Ireland will assume full control over all aspects regarding the team and support staff.
In other NFL news:
— People with knowledge of the negotiations tell The Associated Press that the Redskins and Titans are in discussions about a trade that would send disgruntled defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth back to Tennessee. Washington signed Haynesworth to a $100 million contract in 2009 as a free agent, and the tackle accepted a $21 million bonus in April. It's been a nonstop battle of wills between coach Mike Shanahan and Haynesworth since then. Titans coach Jeff Fisher says if the Redskins are willing to talk, he'll listen.
— Darrelle Revis (duh-REHL' REE'-vihs) practiced with the New York Jets for the first time since he signed a four-year deal that ended his 36-day holdout. The All-Pro cornerback is expected to be ready to play Monday night against Baltimore.
— Quarterback Matt Leinart (LY'-nurt) has officially joined the Houston Texans. The former Heisman Trophy winner signed a one-year contract, three days after being cut by the Arizona Cardinals. The 27-year-old Leinart will be the No. 3 quarterback behind Matt Schaub and Dan Orlovsky.
— Denver Broncos tailback LenDale White has undergone surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles' tendon that will sideline him for the season.
GOLF-RYDER CUP
Pavin's picks
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. Davis Cup captain Corey Pavin (PAY'-vihn) made an obvious choice and a surprising one when he added Tiger Woods and Rickie Fowler to an American team that will try to retain the cup.
Although he's struggled to regain his form, Woods does have 71 victories and 14 majors on his resume. Twenty-one-year-old Fowler has never won anything at all.
Pavin used his other two captain's picks to add former major champions Zach Johnson and Stewart Cink.
The 38th Ryder Cup is scheduled for Oct. 1-3 at the Celtic Manor in Wales. The United States won two years ago at Valhalla, and will try to win for the first time overseas since 1993 at The Belfry.
NHL-NEWS
Habs ink Halpern...Wild's Sheppard breaks kneecap
UNDATED (AP) — Veteran NHL center Jeff Halpern has inked a one-year deal with the Montreal Canadiens for $600,000. The 34-year-old Halpern had nine goals and 10 assists last season while splitting time between Tampa Bay and Los Angeles.
In other hockey news:
— Minnesota Wild center James Sheppard broke his left kneecap Saturday night. There is no timetable for his return.
