sailing
Oracle Team USA stays alive with win at America’s Cup
SAN FRANCISCO – Skipper Jimmy Spithill and defending champion Oracle Team USA accelerated off the starting line and stayed ahead of Emirates Team New Zealand to win their fifth consecutive race and remain alive in the America’s Cup on Monday.
Oracle’s remarkable comeback closed the Kiwis’ lead to 8-6 and no doubt has all of New Zealand on edge.
Team New Zealand has been on match point since Wednesday, only to watch Spithill and Oracle’s improved 72-foot catamaran sail ahead in a determined attempt to keep the oldest trophy in international sports.
Oracle has won eight races. But it was docked two points for illegally modifying boats in warmup regattas called the America’s Cup World Series, so it needs three more wins to win the event.
The margin in Race 16 was 33 seconds.
Because Race 16 was delayed a half-hour due to light wind, Race 17 was postponed until Tuesday.
MLB
Rangers’ Rios hits for the cycle in first four at-bats
ARLINGTON, Texas – Alex Rios of the Texas Rangers hit for the cycle against Houston on Monday in his first four at-bats.
Rios completed the cycle with a triple to right-center field in the sixth inning. He made it to third base standing up without a throw.
The right fielder thought about going for third on a two-run double in the first inning, but held up about 25 feet beyond the bag at second.
Rios had an infield single in the third and hit his 18th homer to left field in the fourth.
Martinez to join TBS studio for baseball’s postseason
NEW YORK – Pedro Martinez will serve as a studio analyst for TBS during the baseball playoffs.
The network said Monday that the three-time Cy Young Award winner will join host Keith Olbermann.
The 41-year-old Martinez last pitched in the 2009 World Series for Philadelphia. He has done some local media appearances in Boston – sorting out, as many recently retired athletes must do, how to fill his newly discovered free time. Always talkative, Martinez saw other ex-players thriving on TV and figured he might fit in there, too.
NFL
Baltimore’s Jones fine after involvement in bus altercation
OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Baltimore receiver Jacoby Jones is doing well after being involved in an altercation on a chartered bus.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh says the incident occurred early Monday morning and that Jones is “fine.”
TMZ reported Jones and his teammates were returning from the District of Columbia after celebrating offensive lineman Bryant McKinnie’s birthday when Jones was hurt.
Harbaugh did not provide details of the altercation. The coach did say Jones “went through everything (Monday) that he was supposed to go through.”
49ers to be without Smith as he enters rehab
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The San Francisco 49ers placed linebacker Aldon Smith on the reserve non-football injury list Monday as he enters rehab for substance abuse and begins what team CEO Jed York has termed an indefinite absence.
San Francisco didn’t immediately announce a corresponding roster move.
Smith played Sunday and had five tackles just two days after he was arrested and jailed Friday morning on suspicion of DUI and marijuana possession. Smith apologized after the 27-7 home loss to the Colts, and now his team moves forward without him heading to St. Louis on Thursday.
Smith had previously been arrested on suspicion of DUI in January 2012 in Miami shortly after the 49ers lost in the NFC championship game.
He is expected to remain in the Bay Area for treatment.
Associated Press
