National Digest

Rockies advance DENVER (AP) — In a season that needed an extra day, Matt Holliday and the Colorado Rockies needed extra innings to pull off the most dramatic comeback of the year. Holliday raced home on Jamey Carroll’s shallow fly ball, capping a stunning, three-run rally in the 13th inning against Trevor Hoffman and leading the Rockies over the San Diego Padres 9-8 in a tiebreaker for the NL wild card. After Scott Hairston’s two-run homer put the Padres ahead in the top of the 13th, Colorado came back against baseball’s career saves leader. The Rockies, who won for the 14th time in 15 games, took the longest one-game tiebreaker in major league history. They advanced to play Philadelphia in the first round starting Wednesday. Knicks ruling NEW YORK — A jury ruled Tuesday that New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas sexually harassed a former top team executive, subjecting her to unwanted advances and a barrage of verbal insults, but also ruled he does not have to pay punitive damages. After an ugly, three-week trial, the ruling gives Thomas a partial victory in the $10 million lawsuit filed by Anucha Browne Sanders. The jury did find that Madison Square Garden committed harassment against the woman, and ruled that she is entitled to punitive damages from MSG. U.S. District Judge Gerard E. Lynch called it an “imminently reasonable” verdict and said the jury will be asked to return later Tuesday to hear brief arguments on punitive damages. Pats win CINCINNATI (AP) — Tom Brady had three more touchdown passes. Sammy Morris had one of the best games of his career. The New England defense had its way. The Patriots remained one of the NFL’s four unbeaten teams Monday night — and, so far, the best of the bunch — by beating the Cincinnati Bengals 34-13 with a performance that showed their versatility. New England (4-0) is off to its best start since 2004, when it won the Super Bowl for the third time in four years. Randy Moss caught a pair of touchdown passes and Morris ran for 117 yards against the Bengals (1-3). Oerter dies FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Al Oerter, the discus star who won gold medals in four straight Olympics to become one of track and field’s biggest stars in the 1950s and ’60s, died. He was 71. Oerter died at a hospital near his Fort Myers Beach home, his wife Cathy Oerter said. He had dealt with high blood pressure since he was young and has struggled with heart problems, she said. “He was a gentle giant,” she said. “He was bigger than life.” Oerter won gold medals in 1956, 1960, 1964 and 1968. Oerter and Carl Lewis are the only track and field stars to capture the same event in four consecutive Olympics. Oerter, however, is the only one to set an Olympic record in each of his victories. COLLEGE FOOTBALL MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A University of Memphis football player was fatally shot on campus in what police believe was a targeted attack, and classes were canceled as a precaution. Taylor Bradford, 21, apparently was shot near a university housing complex about 9:45 p.m. Sunday and then crashed a car he was driving into a tree a short distance away on campus, officials said. “We found him with a bullet wound to the body and the ambulance took him to the hospital where he was pronounced (dead),” said Roger Prewitt, a Memphis Police inspector. Detectives investigating the shooting received reports of gunfire being heard in a parking lot of the housing complex about 200 yards from where Bradford was found, police spokeswoman Monique Martin said. Homicide detectives were unsure of a motive for the shooting and had no suspects, she said. “That’s all still under investigation,” she said. PRO FOOTBALL MIAMI (AP) — Suspended running back Ricky Williams applied for NFL reinstatement, his agent said. Williams has played in only 12 NFL games since the start of the 2004 season, but rushed for 3,225 yards in 2002-03. His current suspension began in April 2006 after he violated the league’s drug policy for the fourth time. He tested positive for marijuana this April, again delaying his return. Under the league’s substance abuse program, when a player applies for reinstatement the doctors have up to 45 days to submit their report and recommendation to the commissioner. He then has up to 15 days to make a decision. That means the process could take up to 60 days from the day Williams applies to be reinstated. Williams remains under contract with Miami, where he won the NFL rushing title in 2002. But new coach Cam Cameron has not indicated whether he wants Williams to stay with the Dolphins, who fell to 0-4 Sunday. HOCKEY CHICAGO (AP) — William Wirtz was as well known as the Blackhawks, and the famed owner was remembered as one of the towering figures in Chicago’s sports history. Hundreds of mourners from the world of hockey and sports gathered for funeral services for Wirtz, 77, who died Wednesday of cancer. Befitting Wirtz’s place in Chicago’s sports landscape, those in attendance included Blackhawks greats such as Stan Mikita and Chris Chelios, as well as NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, Chicago Bulls and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, and Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch. TENNIS STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Tatiana Golovin beat Martina Mueller 6-1, 6-1 in the first day of the Porsche Grand Prix, which has attracted eight of the top 10 women. In the other match, Dinara Safina ousted Katarina Srebotnik 5-7, 6-2, 6-4. Safina finished the match with two straight aces, after making two double-faults at match point. With Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams the only top-10 players not at the tournament, Golovin will have her hands full repeating her runner-up finish from last year. TOKYO (AP) — Zack Fleishman of the United States defeated Kei Nishikori of Japan 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-1 in the first round of the Japan Open. Top-seeded David Ferrer of Spain has a first-round bye along with Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt, seeded fourth. Defending champion Roger Federer pulled out because he needs to rest after the U.S. Open and Davis Cup. In other men’s matches, Ivan Navarro of Spain defeated Robin Haase of the Netherlands, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (0) while Germany’s Mischa Zverev beat Italy’s Fabio Fognini 6-1, 7-6 (7). TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (AP) — Fifth-seeded Ioana Raluca Olaru of Romania rallied to beat Petra Cetkovska of the Czech Republic 3-6, 6-0, 6-1 and advance to the second round of the Tashkent Open. BASKETBALL INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Pacers forward Shawne Williams was ordered to perform 40 hours of community service for driving without ever having received a license and a judge suspended a possible 60-day jail sentence. Williams pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge in Marion Superior Court. He was also fined $400 and ordered to pay $160 in court costs.