National Sports Digest
All-Star Game SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Instead of a Barry Bonds splash shot, the defining hit at the All-Star game was Ichiro Suzuki’s inside-the-park home run, the first in the game’s history. Suzuki lined a go-ahead, two-run drive off the right-field wall in the fifth inning, Carl Crawford and Victor Martinez later hit conventional shots and the American League held on for 5-4 victory over the NL. After Alfonso Soriano’s two-out, two-run homer in the ninth, the NL loaded the bases. Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez then retired Aaron Rowand on a routine fly to right for a save. Willie Mays, Bonds’ godfather, was honored with a touching tribute before the game. In the Say Hey Kid’s day, the NL ruled All-Star games but not anymore. The AL closed to 40-36-2 and improved to 5-0 since the All-Star winner received home-field advantage in the World Series. In a decade of dominance, the AL has won 10 straight games played to a decision, with the infamous 2002 tie at Milwaukee the lone exception during that stretch. The only longer streak was when the NL took 11 in a row from 1972-82. Ken Griffey Jr. drove in two runs for the NL with a first-inning single and a sixth-inning sacrifice fly, and he also threw out Alex Rodriguez at home in the fourth inning. Plane crash SANFORD, Fla. (AP) — A small plane carrying the husband of a NASCAR executive crashed into a neighborhood and engulfed two houses in flames, killing both people aboard the aircraft and three others on the ground. The pilot had reported smoke in the cockpit and was trying to make an emergency landing when the twin-engine plane went down in suburban Orlando, officials said. Dr. Bruce Kennedy, a Daytona Beach plastic surgeon and NASCAR Aviation pilot Michael Klemm were among the dead. Kennedy’s wife is Lesa France Kennedy, president of International Speedway Corp and the daughter of William C. France — the late NASCAR chairman who died June 4 at his Daytona Beach home. Tonsil problems PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Top draft pick Greg Oden needs to have his tonsils removed and is expected to miss the rest of the Portland Trail Blazers’ summer league games. After he tapes the ESPY awards in Los Angeles, he will undergo a tonsillectomy Saturday, at the Vancouver Clinic in nearby Vancouver, Wash., the Trail Blazers announced. Recovery time is expected to be two to three weeks.
AUTO RACING INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indy Racing League announced Tony Kanaan and Sam Hornish Jr. were fined unspecified amounts and placed on probation for the rest of the year for their roles in a fight at Watkins Glen, N.Y.. Kanaan’s team, Andretti Green Racing, and Hornish’s team, Team Penske, were fined $25,000 each for unsportsmanlike conduct on pit road as the cars returned after the checkered flag. The teams are also on probation until Dec. 31.
FOOTBALL ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Raiders signed former Jacksonville safety Donovin Darius, bolstering a unit that was the strongest on the team during a difficult season last year. The Raiders had the NFL’s third-ranked overall defense and No. 1 ranked pass defense last year, despite finishing with an NFL-worst 2-14 record. BASKETBALL NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA set next season’s salary cap at $55.63 million, paving the way for teams to begin signing free agents. The new cap goes into effect Wednesday, when the league’s moratorium period ends and trades can be made. Teams have been allowed to negotiate with free agents since July 1, but the deals couldn’t be completed until the new cap was determined. The salary cap will rise about $2.5 million from last season’s $53.135 million figure. Also, the mid-level exception is rising from $5.2 million to $5.36 million.
HOCKEY PITTSBURGH (AP) — Sidney Crosby signed a five-year contract extension worth $43.5 million that will keep the NHL MVP and scoring champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins through the 2012-13 season. The three-year contract Crosby signed as a rookie lasts through the coming season. Crosby, who turns 20 next month, won the Hart Trophy last month to become the league’s youngest MVP since Wayne Gretzky. The deal, though lucrative, was expected to give the Penguins some flexibility in signing other young stars, such as Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal, in the coming seasons. NEW YORK (AP) — Brendan Shanahan stuck to his word and agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Rangers. The 38-year-old left winger had 29 goals and 62 points with the Rangers last season, his first with New York. Following the Rangers’ second-round playoff elimination, Shanahan said he wanted to continue his career and had no interest in playing anywhere but New York. TOUR DE FRANCE COMPIEGNE, France (AP) — Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara extended his overall lead in the Tour de France, winning the third and longest stage in a sprint finish as cycling’s showpiece event entered its home country. The Swiss rider, who also won Saturday’s prologue, finished the 147-mile ride from Waregem, Belgium, to Compiegne, northeast of Paris, in 6 hours, 36 minute, 15 seconds. Erik Zabel of Germany was second and Danilo Napolitano of Italy was third. Cancellara, who has held the yellow jersey for all four days, extended his overall lead by 10 seconds by gaining bonus points for the victory. He leads Andreas Kloeden of Germany by 33 seconds. David Millar of Britain is third, 41 seconds behind. DOPING ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — The World Anti-Doping Agency might lengthen bans from two to four years if it finds athletes or their entourages deliberately violated drug rules. Revising the anti-doping code will be discussed at a Nov. 15-17 meeting in Madrid, Spain, WADA vice president Jean-Francois Lamour said before the All Africa Games. He said doping authorities would be more lenient where appropriate.
