Auto Racing
Harvick outduels Busch for a Nationwide Series victory
HAMPTON, Ga. – Kevin Harvick raced to his first NASCAR Nationwide Series victory of the year, holding off Kyle Busch on the final lap at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday night.
Harvick pulled ahead of Busch on the 60th lap and led 132 of the 195 laps. Busch had won six of the previous Nationwide events this year in which he also won the pole.
Sam Hornish Jr. was third, followed by Kasey Kahne, rookie Kyle Larson, Joey Lagano, Trevor Bayne, Austin Dillon, Regan Smith and Brian Scott.
Harvick victory was his 40th on the Nationwide circuit.
Busch was trying to win a Nationwide event at Atlanta for the first time. He has nine Nationwide victories this year.
Dixon takes the Power back at Grand Prix of Baltimore
BALTIMORE – After the pit road commotion at Sonoma, Scott Dixon still sent a congratulatory text to winner Will Power.
Dixon’s penalty wiped out his shot at a victory. Power spun Dixon in Saturday’s practice. Dixon, however, got the final payback when he swiped the pole from Power on the last lap of qualifying to take the top spot for the Grand Prix of Baltimore.
Dixon’s second pole of the season won’t erase Sonoma, but it puts him in prime position to win his fourth race of the season and slice into Helio Castroneves’ points lead.
Cycling
Konig’s strong Stage 8 ride shakes up Vuelta leaders
ESTEPONA, Spain – Czech rider Leopold Konig used a final uphill surge to win the eighth stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Saturday, while Nicolas Roche took over the leader’s red jersey.
Konig passed Igor Anton before holding off Daniel Moreno’s sprint to claim the 104-mile ride from Jerez de la Frontera ending with a category-one summit finish at Alto de Penas Blancas.
Konig finished with a time of 4 hours, 9 minutes, 46 seconds. Moreno was 1 second behind, and Roche crossed 5 seconds back.
The strong day moved Konig up to fifth in the overall standings, 29 seconds off Roche’s leading pace.
Roche, the Irish SaxoBank-Tinkoff cyclist, opened up a 17-second lead over Moreno and American veteran Christopher Horner. Former leader Vincenzo Nibali ended up 18 seconds behind.
MLB
Twins find a trade partner for their longtime first baseman
PITTSBURGH – The Minnesota Twins traded Justin Morneau to the Pittsburgh Pirates, sending the veteran first baseman to a playoff-contending team for the final month of the season.
The deal was finished Saturday before the deadline. The Twins obtained outfielder Alex Presley and either a player to be named or cash.
Morneau is in the final year of his contract, making $14 million. He has been with the Twins for 11 seasons, winning the American League MVP award in 2006 and becoming one of the best hitters in the game until a concussion knocked him out of action in 2010. His production hasn’t been the same since.
Morneau batted .259 with 32 doubles, 17 home runs and 74 runs batted in for the Twins this year in 495 at-bats.
Soccer
Heath and Sinclair major Thorns in Flash’s side
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Tobin Heath and Christine Sinclair led the Portland Thorns to the National Women’s Soccer League title Saturday night, scoring in a 2-0 victory over the Western New York Flash.
Heath scored in the 41st minute off a free kick in front of 9,129 fans at Sahlen Stadium.
The Thorns lost defender Kathryn Williamson in the 56th minute when she was given her second yellow card, forcing Portland to play a player short the rest of the way.
Former Flash star Sinclair scored in stoppage time.
The Flash failed in their bid to win their fourth title across four leagues in four seasons.
Associated Press
