Golf
Kirk wins Deutsche Bank, takes FedExCup lead
NORTON, Mass. – Chris Kirk closed with a 5-under 66 on Monday to win the Deutsche Bank Championship and bolster his case for a Ryder Cup pick.
Kirk played the final 36 holes with Rory McIlroy and outplayed the world’s No. 1 player. Of far greater importance was winning this FedExCup playoff event, and he got it done with a bogey-free final round.
Billy Horschel had a chance to force a playoff by making a birdie on the par-5 18th. But he chunked his second shot so badly that it barely reached the hazard.
Kirk won for the second time this season. He won by two shots over Russell Henley, Horschel, and Geoff Ogilvy.
U.S. captain Tom Watson will announce his three wild-card selections Tuesday in New York.
MLB
A powerful combo: Phillies use 4 pitchers for no-hitter
ATLANTA – Cole Hamels and three Philadelphia Phillies relievers combined to pitch a no-hitter Monday, beating the Atlanta Braves 7-0 and giving a last-place team a rare reason to celebrate.
Hamels (8-6) was pulled after six innings and seemed fine with the decision. He struck out seven, walked five, hit a batter and threw 108 pitches on a hot afternoon at Turner Field.
Relievers Jake Diekman, Ken Giles and closer Jonathan Papelbon each pitched a hitless inning to finish off the fourth no-hitter in the majors this season.
Josh Beckett and Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers and Tim Lincecum of the Giants each threw no-hitter earlier this year.
Porter sent back to the shelf, as Astros fire manager
HOUSTON – The Houston Astros fired manager Bo Porter in his second season with the club.
General manager Jeff Luhnow says the decision wasn’t based on Houston’s record but because “we need a new direction in our clubhouse.”
The Astros entered Monday in fourth place in the AL West with a 59-79 record, second worst in the league.
Bench coach Dave Trembley also was let go, and Tom Lawless takes over as interim manager. Lawless worked in Houston’s minor league system and was the interim manager at Triple-A Oklahoma City this season when manager Tony DeFrancesco was on medical leave.
Porter joined the Astros for the 2013 season after working as a third base coach for the Washington Nationals.
NFL
Sam doesn’t find a spot on Rams’ practice squad
ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Rams have signed 10 players to their practice squad. As expected, Michael Sam was not among them.
The Rams added two each at linebacker, offensive line, wide receiver and safety Monday, fortifying needy positions. Sam starred at defensive line for Missouri, but coach Jeff Fisher said the defensive line was the strongest group on the team.
Rookie quarterback Garrett Gilbert and seven others were among the cuts that got the roster to 53 players.
Wrestling
African wrestlers won’t attend the world championships
VEVEY, Switzerland – The governing body of wrestling says nine athletes cannot compete at the upcoming world championships because of travel restrictions imposed since the Ebola virus outbreak in west Africa.
FILA says the ruling by the Uzbekistan health ministry affects seven wrestlers from Nigeria and two from Sierra Leone.
The decision follows similar travel bans imposed by China and Russia ahead of the recent Youth Olympic Games and judo worlds.
FILA President Nenad Lalovic says “our sympathies go out to the affected wrestlers, coaches and fans.”
The wrestling worlds are scheduled for Sept. 8-14 in Tashkent.
Associated Press
