MLB-LATEST SCORES
Six straight for the Cards...Rays remain road warriors
UNDATED (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals hit home runs in bunches in their 8-4 victory over Philadelphia for their sixth straight victory. During one stretch, the Cards hit four homers in a span of six batters.
Albert Pujols (POO'-hohlz) hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning that began the barrage. Rookie Allen Craig, Skip Schumaker and Randy Winn also went deep for St. Louis, which remained a half-game back of Cincinnati in the NL Central.
In the rest of the NL:
— Cincinnati dispatched Washington 7-2 to stay on top of the NL Central. Johnny Cueto (KWAY'-toh) pitched six innings around a rain delay and drove in two runs.
— Florida rallied past Colorado 9-8 on Donnie Murphy's two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth. Colorado's Ubaldo Jimenez (oo-BAHL'-doh hih-MEHN'-ehz) was going for his Major League-leading 16th win of the season, but was not involved in the decision. Jimenez had his shortest outing of the season, giving up six runs in a five and two-thirds innings.
— Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks each hit home runs for the second consecutive game and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1. Chris Capuano won for the first time in more than three years, ending a personal 13-game losing streak.
Over in the AL:
— The Tampa Bay Rays have the best road record in the majors at 30-and-16 following their 8-1 rout of Baltimore. Rookie Wade Davis allowed one run over eight innings. Evan Longoria had two hits during a seven-run third inning.
MLB-NEWS
New contract for Padres skipper...More hangups in Rangers sale
UNDATED (AP) — The San Diego Padres have extended manager Bud Black's contract for three years through the 2013 season. The deal includes club options for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Black has had the Padres in first place in the NL West since April 20.
In other big league news:
— Angry creditors in the Texas Rangers bankruptcy case are raising two issues that could delay or even stop the team's sale. Creditors have filed a sealed motion, saying they object to the bidding procedures approved last week for the club's auction, set for Aug. 4. A separate lawsuit seeks to remove the Rangers Ballpark lease from the team's sale.
NFL-NEWS
Titans give Johnson new deal
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Chris Johnson's agent says the running back and the Tennessee Titans have agreed on a revised deal that will ensure he reports with the rest of the team for training camp. Johnson is coming off a season in which he became the sixth NFL running back to run for at least 2,000 yards.
Agent Joel Segal confirms the deal. Segal would not say how much of a raise Johnson is getting, but did say the running back will get a pay increase. Johnson will reportedly earn $2.5 million this season under the revised deal.
TENNIS-WILLIAMS SURGERY
WTA says Serena Williams questionable for US Open
UNDATED (AP) — Serena Williams might not play in this year's U.S. Open.
The WTA Tour says Serena Williams is questionable for the U.S. Open because of her recent foot injury.
Williams cut her right foot on broken glass at a restaurant shortly after winning Wimbledon. The tour said last week she needed surgery and would miss three tournaments leading up to the Open.
But tour spokesman Andrew Walker now says Williams is questionable for the final Grand Slam of the year.
Williams' return to the Open has been widely anticipated because of her tumultuous semifinal loss there last year. That's when she threw a tirade at a line judge and was fined a record $82,500.
NBA-NEWS
Miami filling out its roster...Dirk hits paydirt in Big-D
UNDATED (AP) — The restoration of the Miami Heat roster continues.
Center Jamaal Magloire (muh-GLOHR') has re-signed with the Miami Heat for the coming season. It'll be his third season with Miami, which wanted him back to bolster its depth inside. Magloire has averaged 7.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in his 10 NBA seasons.
He's the 10th player to sign with Miami for next season, including the fourth center. Miami depleted its roster from last season in order to make salary cap space for highly touted free agents LeBron James and Chris Bosh.
In other NBA news:
The Dallas Mavericks have secured the services of nine-time All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki (noh-VIHT'-skee) with a new long-term contract. Terms were not disclosed but a person familiar with the negotiations has told The Associated Press the deal is for more than $80 million over four years, with a no-trade clause.
— Free-agent forward Matt Barnes says he is headed for Toronto. Barnes wrote on his Twitter page that he has decided to play for the Raptors next season. He also thanked fans in Orlando, where he played last season while starting 58 games.
— The Milwaukee Bucks have signed guard Keyon Dooling to be a backup to guard Brandon Jennings. Two people with knowledge of other talks tell The Associated Press on Monday that the team is in trade discussions with the Sacramento Kings to obtain forward Jon Brockman.
— Raja Bell is returning to the Utah Jazz, who have signed the 33-year-old shooting guard to a three-year deal worth about $10 million, Bell says his left wrist recovered from surgery last year and is fine.
— The Boston Celtics have re-signed 5-foot-9 guard Nate Robinson. He came to Boston at last year's trading deadline and provided depth off the bench in the playoffs.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
AD says Gamecocks under scrutiny...Ex-Gator under the microscope
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina athletic director Eric Hyman says the NCAA is investigating a possible rules violation of one of the athletic programs. Hyman says the school has cooperated and will continue working with the NCAA on its inquiry, although he did not detail what program was being investigated.
Tight end Weslye Saunders has been identified by various media reports as the target of the investigation. Saunders would not discuss his conversations with the NCAA when reached by phone Monday.
Coach Steve Spurrier told The (Columbia) State newspaper that he has no knowledge of Saunders breaking any rules.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — ESPN is reporting that Florida and the NCAA are investigating allegations that former Gators offensive lineman Maurkice Pouncey received $100,000 from a representative of a sports agent before last season ended and that Florida AD Jeremy Foley has shared its information on the matter with the NCAA and SEC. Pouncey was selected 18th overall in this year's NFL draft.
NHL-NEWS
Staggering deal for Devils' Kovalchuk...Lightning strikes for Gagne
UNDATED (AP) — Ending weeks of speculation about where Ilya Kovalchuk (EEL'-yah KOH'-vul-chook) will be playing next season. The New Jersey Devils have announced that they have worked out a staggering 17-year, $102 million deal with the free agent forward. The Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders, Devils and a team in Russia made the biggest runs at Kovalchuk since free agency started on July 1.
The 27-year-old Russian was traded to the Devils by Atlanta in February after rejecting a 12-year, $101 million extension offered by the Thrashers. Kovalchuk had 41 goals and 44 assists last season in earning $7.5 million, but only 10 goals and 17 assists came with the Devils.
The deal is somewhat salary-cap friendly for the Devils, who will absorb an annual hit of $6 million — the average amount per season. However, Kovalchuk will remain on the books through the 2026-27 season.
In other NHL news:
— The Tampa Bay Lightning have traded defenseman Matt Walker and a fourth round pick in the 2011 draft to the Philadelphia Flyers for left wing Simon Gagne (gahn-YAY'). The 30-year old Walker has played in 304 career regular season games over seven seasons. Gagne, who is also 30, has played in 664 career NHL games, all with the Flyers.
TOUR DE FRANCE
Change in leader
BAGNERES-DE-LUCHON, France (AP) — Andy Schleck has lost the overall lead in the Tour de France to defending champion Alberto Contador. Thomas Voeckler was the winner of the 15th stage in a time of 4 hours, 44 minutes, 51 seconds. The stage covered the 116.5-mile course from Pamiers to Bagneres-de-Luchon.
Schleck had to stop near the top of the final climb when his chain came off. Contador had been right behind him and shot past, gaining a lead while his rival from Luxembourg put his chain back on.
