London 2012: Chinese swimmer Ye Shiwen denies doping

Ye Shiwen swam faster in the last 50m of the 400m medley than her counterpart in the men's race

Chinese gold medallist swimmer Ye Shiwen, 16, has denied taking drugs to enhance her performance, saying there was "no problem with doping".

A US coach earlier said Ye's record-breaking performance in Saturday's 400m individual medley was "disturbing".
Elsewhere, police are investigating an allegedly offensive tweet sent to UK diver Tom Daley about his late father.
Team GB will be going for medals in events including canoeing, diving and equestrian later.
Zara Phillips, the Queen's granddaughter, joins fellow riders from Team GB in the showjumping finale of the eventing competition. The team goes into the final day in the silver medal position.
In other developments:

• Tube trains on the Central line to the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London, have been suspended following a "fire alert"
• Dorset Police are investigating a Twitter message sent to Daley after he failed to win a medal in the synchronised diving event. The tweet is said to have made reference to his father, who died of cancer in May last year
• The women's volleyball team sealed Team GB's first-ever Olympic victory in the sport, beating Algeria at 00:37 BST on Tuesday
• In hockey, Team GB's men opened their campaign with a 4-1 thrashing of Argentina
• Britain's Liam Tancock missed out on a medal in the men's 100m backstroke final
• Lithuanian 15-year-old Ruta Meilutyte - who goes to school in Plymouth - won her country's first-ever Olympic gold in the swimming pool in the women's 100m breaststroke
• Transport for London said the system ran smoothly on the first full working day of the Games
• Team GB will also be competing in football, rowing, gymnastics and sailing, while the athletics team will arrive at the Olympic Village after attending a training camp in Portugal

Ye Shiwen took seconds off her personal best to break the world record and win a gold medal in the 400m medley on Saturday, swimming faster in the last 50m than the winner of the men's event.
There is no evidence against her and all medal winners are drug-tested.
John Leonard - the executive director of the World Swimming Coaches Association - said her performance was "unbelievable".
But Ye Shiwen said: "There is no problem with doping. The Chinese team has a firm policy so there is no problem with that."
All medal winners at the Olympics are automatically drug-tested.
'Moment in history' On Monday, Team GB's men's gymnasts won bronze - the country's first team medal in the sport in 100 years.

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They had initially won silver, but were demoted after fourth-place Japan successfully challenged the result, moving up to silver.

UK Sport chief executive Liz Nicoll said Team GB had made a good start.
"We want more medals than Beijing so at least 48 medals in at least 12 sports, that's the official target for the outcome from these games," she said.
"Three fantastic medals, the bronze medal from the men's team gymnastics was outstanding, that's a moment in history, that was not predicted."
Games organisers Locog put more Olympic tickets on sale overnight but will not confirm the details of the latest release until a media conference later on Tuesday.
It is making seats available day-by-day after criticism of empty seats which had been allocated to sports federations.
The tickets can be bought only online, before they are picked up at collection points in venues for pre-purchased tickets.

Related Stories

• Day Four's must-see moments
• Day Three: What you may have missed
• GB win stunning gymnastics bronze

 Credits:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19058769

Olympic gymnastics: Louis Smith hails 'beautiful day' for his sport

Louis Smith believes gymnastics in Great Britain can enter a new era after GB's men won Olympic team bronze.

Smith and his team-mates picked up the first British men's team medal in a century, four years after he won pommel horse bronze at the Beijing Games.
"British gymnastics has been growing and growing," said Smith. "Now everyone will be more motivated than ever.
"This means so much and we've still got finals left. It's a beautiful day for the sport and for British gymnastics."
Though Britain were denied silver following an appeal from eventual runners-up Japan, the team insisted their bronze medals - unprecedented for GB in modern gymnastics - would have a huge impact on the sport's future.

Analysis

Mitch Fenner BBC gymnastics commentator

"There are people all over this arena who have been part of a 40-year legacy building up to this.
"To think a British team is in contention with Japan and Russia - that cannot be put into perspective. Those are nations GB could not even look at a decade ago, and now they are fighting with them.
"Nine years ago, Britain's men were 23rd in the world. Now they are the Olympic bronze medallists."

Smith added: "The beauty about what we've got is that this team isn't just a one-hit wonder.

"Two of these guys [Sam Oldham and Max Whitlock] are 19 years old, not even at their peak yet, with Rio 2016 coming up.
"The juniors we've got coming up - we've been junior European champions for the last six years - there's so much depth."
In an Olympic Games notable so far for a comparative dearth of British medals up against expectations in some quarters, gymnastics has provided positive headlines and a real success story.
"Really, the road started six years ago," explained Eddie van Hoof, the technical director of the men's programme.
"There was a real depth of gymnasts over that period and also of coaching staff. We've been a very tight bunch for the last six years.
"We created belief. The belief came when Louis got the first medal in Beijing, that really set us on the right road and it's an amazing result. A lot of hard work well-rewarded."
Former GB gymnast Craig Heap, watching the final for BBC Radio 5 live, believes this team bronze medal will have a far greater positive impact on his sport than even Smith's breakthrough bronze in 2008.
"It transforms gymnastics in this country," said Heap, who won two Commonwealth team titles with England at Kuala Lumpur in 1998 and Manchester in 2002, in the infancy of the GB team's development.
"It makes Louis's achievement from four years ago look quite insignificant. It proves we've got the depth of a team now.
"There'll be kids all over the country thinking, 'I don't have to be as good as Louis, we can do it as a team or as individuals.' These guys have proved that with heart, determination and the right crowd, everything is achievable."
Kristian Thomas, the unheralded engine room of the British team alongside Dan Purvis for several years, seized his chance to carve his name into the London Olympics with a series of superb routines which, time and again, kept Britain in the reckoning for a medal.
His vault, high bar and floor routines all delivered significant scores - a breathtaking 16.550 in the case of the vault - and ultimately propelled Britain past Ukraine, who finished fourth on 271.526 points to Britain's 271.711.
"It was a fantastic feeling, drilling my feet into the ground and knowing, 'Right, we're onto a good day here,'" said Thomas, 23, of his all-important vault midway through the final.
"Our results over the past few years just seem to have got better and better. We're starting to get a bit more recognition from the outside world and it's what we need.
"The more people that get involved, it can only do British gymnastics good. Hopefully this can put gymnastics right at the front with all the other sports, and show the rest of the nation and the world we're a force to be reckoned with. Long may it continue."

Source:Ollie Williams BBC Sport at the North Greenwich Arena

South Sudan's Marial 'overjoyed' at Olympics chance

 

Guor Marial qualified to run in the Olympics in his first-ever marathon last year

South Sudanese athlete Guor Marial has told the BBC he is overjoyed to be able to take part in the London 2012 marathon under the Olympic flag.

The International Olympic Committee chose Marial, 28, to run as an independent as the new nation of South Sudan is yet to join the movement.
He refused an offer to run for Sudan - the bitter enemy of South Sudanese during a decades-long civil war.
The athlete lost 28 relatives during the conflict.
South Sudan seceded from Sudan last July following a peace deal in 2005 which ended the civil war in which some 1.5 million people died.
'Feeling great' Marial told the BBC's Newsday programme it was a huge honour to go to the Games and sport should be a positive force for the new state, which is facing numerous problems since independence.
"I'm feeling great to be able to bring the name of South Sudan [to the Olympics] and to represent them," he said from his training base in Arizona in the US.
He said people in South Sudan, which does not yet have an Olympic body, were probably happier than he was at his opportunity.
Marial was one of four athletes chosen by the IOC to run in the London 2012 Games as independent athletes.
He is a permanent resident of the US after arriving as a refugee when he was a child, however, he does not have US citizenship.
Marial qualified to run in the Olympics in his first-ever marathon last year after being a cross-country runner at Iowa State University.
He will get a chance to test himself against the best in the world in the Olympic marathon on 12 August, the last day of the Games.

The Open 2012: Ernie Els wins as Adam Scott crumbles

Ernie Els clinched his second Open title after long-time leader Adam Scott spectacularly imploded at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

The 42-year-old South African birdied the 18th to end seven under as Australia's Scott bogeyed the last four holes to come second by one shot.
Els, who began the day six shots adrift, clinched his fourth major title and first since winning the 2002 Open at Muirfield.

The putt that won Ernie Els the Open

The 1994 and 1997 US Open champion carded 68 to the 75 of Scott, who had led since the sixth hole on Saturday.
The 32-year-old Scott was four shots clear on the 15th tee and needed to hole from 10ft on the last to force a play-off.
"I am just numb at the moment, I feel for Adam Scott, he is a great friend of mine," said Els, who picked up £900,000 in prize money.
"We both wanted to win so badly, but I really feel for him. That is the nature of the beast, that is why we are out here.
"It was my time. I was hoping at best a play-off. A lot of people never thought I would win but I started believing this year, getting a lot of help from my family and the professionals around me."
Tiger Woods threatened at times but a triple bogey via a greenside bunker at the par-four sixth and three straight bogeys from the 13th sank his chances of a 15th major and first since the 2008 US Open.

Els's Open record at Lytham

• 1996: Joint second with Mark McCumber two shots adrift of American Tom Lehman
• 2006: Joint third behind champion David Duval and Niclas Fasth after final round 69

The 36-year-old carded a three-over 73 to end tied third at three under alongside playing partner and fellow American Brandt Snedeker (74).

Woods said: "It's part of golf - we all go through these phases, some people it lasts entire careers, others are a little bit shorter. Even the greatest players to ever play have all gone through little stretches like this."
Graeme McDowell, the 2010 US Open champion, was playing in the final group for a second straight major but again struggled to engage the leader.
The Northern Irishman took 75 to tie for fifth at two under with England's world number one Luke Donald, who climbed up the leaderboard with a 69.
Scott's capitulation must rank worse than Rory McIlroy's Masters meltdown in 2011 and up there with Jean van de Velde's final-hole drama at Carnoustie in 1999.

Faldo's expert analysis

Nick Faldo Three-time Open champion and BBC Sport analyst

"Els didn't do anything sensational, he just kept playing solid golf.
"They have been rebuilding his putting stroke for years now, but something has clicked psychologically. It is incredible the power of the mind.
"Adam Scott's Achilles heel is pulling his mid irons, which he did at 17. After that he should have throttled back with a two iron or something off the tee at the last to keep out of the bunkers.
"It will be scarring for him to get into such a position in a major. It will take a lot of fixing."

His defeat called to mind his compatriot Greg Norman's loss at the Masters in 1996 when Nick Faldo overhauled a six-stroke deficit to snatch victory at Augusta in the last round.

"I'm very disappointed but I played so beautifully for most of the week I really shouldn't let this bring me down," said Scott.
"I know I've let a really great chance slip through my fingers today, but somehow I'll look back and take the positives from it."
Els, who was ninth at last month's US Open, becomes the 16th consecutive different major champion and moves up from 40th to 15th in the world rankings. He also finished tied second when Royal Lytham hosted the Open in 1996 and tied third when it was last held on the Fylde coast, in 2001.
Scott led by four overnight and was still four clear of second-placed McDowell by the turn as the expected challenge in a stiffening breeze failed to materialise.
Els was six shots adrift after going out in two-over 36 but he edged into the frame with birdies at the 10th, 12th and 14th.
His putt across the final green set up the prospect of a play-off but Scott found a bunker with his drive and was unable to make his par.
Donald, who like Scott is also still searching for a maiden major title, echoed the Australian's feelings, and the feelings of many in the field.
"Certainly I'll leave this week knowing that my game is definitely good enough to win majors," said the 34-year-old, who finished five shots behind Els.
"Unfortunately I couldn't quite hole the putts, but I'll take a lot of positives away from this week."

England will recover from South Africa loss - Andrew Strauss

Captain Andrew Strauss says England can draw on recent success to recover from their innings defeat by South Africa.

Series wins over Australia, home and away, India and West Indies helped England top the world rankings.
But their position is under threat from South Africa, who outplayed them in the first Test at The Kia Oval.
"Our attack has taken 20 wickets in almost every game during the last two years and one game shouldn't dent their confidence too much," said Strauss.
"We need to draw on our reserves of confidence.

Michael Vaughan Test Match Special

"England have been hammered - and they just don't get hammered at home. The Test match arena has been a fortress for a while for England on their own turf.
"You're allowed one iffy performance - it's a performance we haven't seen from England for a long, long time and they certainly have the character to bounce back.
"They've got no option but to come out, play positive cricket and try to win the last two games."

"The batsmen made mistakes that we need to be sharper on, but I have every confidence that we can come back stronger.

"We have done it before and we'll do it again."
The result was England's first innings defeat on home soil since the fourth Test loss to Australia at Headingley in 2009.
England were well-placed after the opening day, with Alastair Cook's century helping them to 267-3.
However, they collapsed to 385 all out on the second day and saw the tourists pile on 637-2, with Hashim Amla becoming the first South African to score a Test triple-century.
And England's misery was complete when they were bowled out just short of tea on the final day, with only Ian Bell and wicketkeeper Matt Prior offering any sort of resistance.
"We were soundly beaten," admitted Strauss. "We had the better of day one, but the next four days belonged to South Africa.
"They played outstandingly well but we do have regrets - the way we played on the second morning, to allow them back into the game.
"Losing four wickets on the fourth evening was another body blow. It's important we regroup, learn our lessons and bounce back."
It was a perfect 100th Test for South African captain Graeme Smith, who set the tone for South Africa's dominance with a commanding century before Amla and Jacques Kallis took over.

Analysis

Jonathan Agnew BBC cricket correspondent

"You must sell your wicket dear when you are trying to save a Test. England need to be more switched on at Headingley because, ultimately, their success or failure will come down to the application of their batsmen."

He will now return to South Africa for the birth of his first child, before returning for the second Test at Headingley, starting on 2 August.

"It feels amazing, it was a terrific win," said Smith. "We had to work hard - there wasn't much in the pitch so to get 20 wickets in the match is an excellent effort by our bowlers.
"It was also an incredible experience to be a part of Hashim's 300. It was a unique experience and I am very proud that somebody from our team achieved something like that.
"I played against him as a schoolboy, and he was always mentally very strong and destined for the very top."
Amla won the match-of-the-match award for his unbeaten 311, and he was delighted to contribute to the convincing victory.
"It feels great to have a big victory under our belts from the first Test," he said.
"There were nerves out there, but that is part of getting a big score and fortunately I came out on top."

Source: Marc Higginson BBC Sport

Kennedy has big hit, pitches D-backs to win

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Ian Kennedy (31) is greeted at the dugout by Miguel Montero, left, and manager Kirk Gibson, center, after hitting a three-run triple against the Colorado Rockies during the fourth winning of a baseball game, Monday, July 23, 2012, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Ian Kennedy had a bases-clearing triple and scattered five hits over eight strong innings Monday night, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Colorado Rockies 6-3.

Paul Goldschmidt homered and Willie Bloomquist added an RBI double for the Diamondbacks, who have won a season-high seven straight home games and five of six overall.
Josh Rutledge hit his first career home run and doubled, and Carlos Gonzalez also homered for the Rockies, losers of five of six.
Kennedy (8-8) allowed two runs and struck out seven en route to his second straight win. Kennedy has lasted eight innings in each of his past two starts, giving up three runs on 13 hits across the 16 innings.
Source:newsvine

Bradley Wiggins' Tour de France win 'miraculous' - Brailsford

Safety in numbers: Bradley Wiggins won the Tour after he and his team-mates produced some impressive statistics Team Sky general manager Dave Brailsford hails Bradley Wiggins as the best British rider ever after he became the first British rider to win the Tour de France.
Shane Sutton, head coach of Team Sky, says Wiggins's win is comparable to the biggest sporting moments in British history, while Sean Yates, Team Sky's sporting director, says this is the beginning of dynasty for the team.

Wiggins, 32, took the lead in the three-week stage race following stage seven after team-mate and compatriot Chris Froome won on the summit finish on La Planche des Belles Filles and wore it all the way to the finishing line on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

Despite going into the Tour as the bookmakers' favourite nobody will have predicted that a nation that had spent just 11 days in the maillot jaune, the leader's yellow jersey, in 98 previous editions of the race, would have a rider wear it for 13 successive days before winning it outright.

Yankees acquire OF Ichiro Suzuki from Mariners

• New York Yankees' Ichiro Suzuki …

Ichiro Suzuki is headed to a new team and, after all these years, maybe a shot at playing in the World Series.

The New York Yankees acquired the star outfielder from the Seattle Mariners in a trade Monday for two young pitchers.

"I am going from a team with the most losses to a team with the most wins," he said. "It's hard to contain my excitement for that reason."

The Yankees also got cash in the deal that sent 25-year-old righties D.J. Mitchell and Danny Farquhar to the last-place Mariners. The trade was announced a few hours before the Yankees played at Seattle.

Moving from one clubhouse to another, Suzuki started in right field in place of the injured Nick Swisher and batted eighth for New York on Monday night. It was the first time Suzuki started a game batting anywhere other than the top three spots in the lineup.
Fans at Safeco Field gave Suzuki a 45 second standing ovation when he came to bat with one out in the third inning. He doffed his helmet and bowed twice to the crowd before hitting a single and stealing second base.
Suzuki went 1 for 4 with his 16th stolen base in his Yankees debut and caught the final out of New York's 4-1 victory.
The Yankees made the trade a few days after learning that speedy outfielder Brett Gardner would likely miss the rest of the season because of an elbow problem, and manager Joe Girardi said Suzuki will mostly play left field.
"We're very excited with the caliber of player we are getting. We feel that he brings the speed element. He's a tremendous hitter. That speed element is what we lost when Gardy had surgery," Girardi said. "So this is a big day for us."

Suzuki was given No. 31 because the number he wore his entire career with the Mariners, No. 51, has not been worn since four-time World Series champion Bernie Williams last played.

"No. 51 is a special number to me, but when I think about what 51 means to the Yankees, it's hard for me to ask for that number."
Mitchell made his major league debut this season and pitched four games for the Yankees. Farquhar made his big league debut last year with Toronto and was claimed last month on waivers by the Yankees from Oakland.
The 38-year-old Suzuki had spent his whole big league career with Seattle. The 10-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner is batting .261 with four home runs, 28 RBIs and 15 stolen bases this year.
Suzuki is a career .322 hitter, a former AL MVP and holds the record for most hits in a season. He had batted over .300 in every season until dipping last year.
The only thing missing on Suzuki's resume is an appearance in the World Series, and he may get a chance with the Yankees. Suzuki was the AL MVP and rookie of the year in 2001 after a stellar career in Japan, and the Mariners reached the AL championship series that season before losing to the Yankees. Seattle has not been back to the playoffs since then.
He said he hasn't played in left field since those 2001 playoffs.
The Yankees certainly hope this trade with the Mariners works out better than the last big deal between the teams. New York sent prized young catcher Jesus Montero to Seattle before the season for All-Star pitcher Michael Pineda, who was later injured and is out for the year.
The Mariners had been in a delicate situation with Suzuki. A long time star and fan favorite, Suzuki's skills have been eroding. He's in the final year of a five-year contract, paying $18 million this season. There has been much debate in the Seattle media whether he would be back next year with Seattle, a team that is rebuilding with young talent.
Suzuki put an end to the speculation when he approached management around the All-Star break and asked to be traded.
"Several weeks ago, Ichiro Suzuki, through his long time agent, Tony Attanasio, approached (team president) Chuck Armstrong and me to ask that the Mariners consider trading him," said Howard Lincoln, the team's CEO. "Ichiro knows that the club is building for the future, and he felt that what was best for the team was to be traded to another club and give our younger players an opportunity to develop."
Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter has long admired Suzuki, saying, "he's been consistent throughout his career."
"They're been a lot of guys that have come here over the years, starting my first year with Cecil Fielder," he added. "It's been unexpected, sort of out of the blue. That's why you don't ever listen to rumors. Getting someone like this is unbelievable."

Said Suzuki about playing with Jeter: "I noticed that he's not only a guy who has performed for a long time but consistently performed for a long time. And for a team that has the highest expectations of demand to win. To do what he has done there makes me see that he's exceptional, not just potential wise as a talent but also as a human being."

Suzuki, usually stoic on and off the field, became emotional at times during the news conference, especially when talking about his admiration for the Mariners fans.

"When I think about this long period, it is difficult to express precisely my feeling," Suzuki said of his time in Seattle. "When I imagined taking off a Seattle Mariners uniform, I was overcome with sadness. That made it a very difficult decision to make."

IOC President Jacques Rogge honors Israelis

IOC President Jacques Rogge paid tribute Monday to the 11 Israeli athletes and coaches killed in Munich 40 years ago, leading a solemn minute of silence in the athletes village.

It was the first time the IOC has honored the slain Israelis in a ceremony inside an Olympic village.

Rogge has repeatedly rebuffed calls to hold a moment of silence during Friday's opening ceremony of the London Games. He said Saturday the opening was not the appropriate place to remember the Israeli team members killed by Palestinian gunmen at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

On Monday, Rogge chose a different venue and occasion to hold a special observance.
"I would like to start today's ceremony by honoring the memory of the 11 Israeli Olympians who shared the ideals that have brought us together in this beautiful Olympic Village," Rogge said. "The 11 victims of the Munich tragedy believed in that vision.
"They came to Munich in the spirit of peace and solidarity. We owe it to them to keep the spirit alive and to remember them."
Rogge bowed his head as a crowd of about 100 people — IOC executive board members, dignitaries and Olympic athletes and officials — stood in silence for a minute.
"As the events of 40 years ago remind us, sport is not immune from and cannot cure all the ills of the world," Rogge said.

Rogge spoke from an outdoor stage during a ceremony promoting the Olympic Truce, a U.N.-backed initiative calling on warring parties around the world to end hostilities during the period of the games. Rogge and other officials signed the "truce wall" after the event.

Rogge and the International Olympic Committee have come under pressure from Jewish groups and politicians in the United States, Israel and Germany to honor the Munich victims during the opening ceremony.

"We feel that the opening ceremony is an atmosphere that is not fit to remember such a tragic incident," Rogge said Saturday.
Rogge and the IOC will also honor the slain Israelis at a private reception in London during the games on Aug. 6. The IOC will also take part in a ceremony in Germany on the anniversary of the attack on Sept. 5 at the military airfield of Furstenfeldbruck where most of the Israelis died.
During the second week of the Munich Games, eight members of the Black September militant group penetrated the laxly secured Olympic Village and took Israeli team members hostage. A day later, all 11 were dead. German police killed five of the eight assassins during a failed rescue attempt.
Still, Monday's tribute did not fully satisfy families and advocates for the victims.
Ankie Spitzer, whose husband Andre coached the Israel fencing team in 1972, said in a statement that Rogge's "private moment" was just a "rehearsal" for what they expected of him on Friday.
"We will continue our efforts to have the memory of our loved ones honored at the opening ceremony," said Spitzer, who will speak at a news conference on Wednesday in London.
The United States-based Anti-Defamation League criticized the IOC for an "irrational and stubborn" refusal to honor those who died.
"This four-decade refusal to mark one of the most infamous terrorist attacks in history, and an attack on the Olympics Games themselves, represents a continuing stubborn insensitivity and callousness to the memory of the murdered Israeli athletes," Abraham H. Foxman, the ADL's national director, said in a statement.
Rogge, who competed in sailing at the Munich Games, said Monday's tribute was heartfelt and not a response to the demands for a commemoration during the opening ceremony.
"It has nothing to do with the requests," he said. "It was a spontaneous gesture from me because we are here in the Olympic Village where the athletes were killed, part of them at least. This is a place where we speak about sport and peace. It's absolutely normal I should call for a remembrance of the Israeli athletes.

"I couldn't speak here in front of the athletes and the national Olympic committees about peace and sport and about the Olympic Truce without remembering or reminding the people what happened 40 years ago and the disaster that also started in the Olympic Village in Munich, so it was fitting that I would say what I feel about that."

The remembrance came at the end of a tour of the village by Rogge and the executive board. Rogge inspected a room in the Brazilian housing area, watched a team-welcoming ceremony featuring circus performers, chatted with British volleyball player Nathan French in the game room and sat in the cafeteria with Australian athletes who greeted him with "G'day mate."

Rogge, who is attending his 21st Olympics, had rave reviews for the facilities.

"It's a Premier League Olympic Village," he said.

Pirates' 5-game winning streak ends, 2-0 loss

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija throws against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third inning of a baseball game, Monday, July 23, 2012, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Erik Bedard has been the weak link in the Pittsburgh Pirates' starting rotation for much of the season. That appears to be changing.

Bedard pitched very well Monday night but wound up being the tough-luck loser as Jeff Samardzija gave up one hit over eight innings and Alfonso Soriano hit two run-scoring doubles to help the Chicago Cubs cool off the Pirates 2-0.
The loss ended the Pirates' five-game winning streak.
Bedard (5-11) allowed one earned run and two hits in seven innings while walking two and striking out 11.
"Boy, he got into a rhythm sometime between the second and third inning," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "It was fun to watch him go to work, too, with the fastball-curveball-changeup combination. But the breaking ball became very effective, so a very well-pitched game by both starters, very well-pitched."
Bedard lost his last four decisions before the All-Star break. However, he is 1-1 to stars the second half, giving up just two earned runs in 13 2-3 innings.
"He ought to be feeling good about himself," Hurdle said.
Bedard doesn't show much emotion and said it was hard to feel good because Pittsburgh didn't win.
"We got a loss, so I don't know," Bedard said when asked what he could take from Monday's outing. "That's all."
The only hit Samardiza allowed was a fourth-inning infield single by Andrew McCutchen, the major leagues' leading hitter with a .373 average. The ball ricocheted off Samardzija.
"McCutchen is really fast and your first reaction is to stop after taking a couple of steps toward the bag if you feel you have no chance," Samardzija said in explaining why he was late covering first base as McCutchen easily beat first baseman Anthony Rizzo's throw. "I would have hated if it had cost us a no-hitter, though. We'll probably have (pitchers' fielding practice) every day for a month after that."
Samardzija (7-8) struck out five and walked one. He was pulled after throwing 99 pitches as Cubs manager Dale Sveum decided to not to give the 27-year-old a shot at his first career complete game.
"I know he's not on my Christmas list but I wasn't letting him go back out there after sitting for 27 minutes," Sveum said. "I couldn't let that happen. I know I'm not on his Christmas list because of it but he's in his first (major league) season as a starter and we're not going to overextend him."
Samardzija smiled when asked if he might still buy Sveum a present in December.
"He's off my list for tonight but that's all," Samardzija said. "(Sveum) has been great all year. He has all our backs and I know he's looking out for my best interests."
Soriano provided two big one-out hits, scoring Starlin Castro both times, as Chicago ended its 28-inning scoreless streak that stretched to the second inning of last Friday's game at St. Louis. The Cardinal completed the sweep with two shutouts.
"It was a bad weekend for all of us, so it was nice to get going in the right direction again," Soriano said.
McCutchen, who walked in the first inning, was the only Pirate to reach base until Josh Harrison led off the ninth inning with an infield single off closer Carlos Marmol, who retired the next three hitters for his 12th save.
"Sometimes you just get shut down," McCutchen said. "It's happens to the best of teams and it happens to the worst of teams,"
Soriano's double to center in the fourth inning off Erik Bedard (5-11) came after Castro drew a leadoff walk. In the eighth, Soriano doubled to right-center off Tony Watson after Castro led off with a single.
Beside the fourth inning, the Cubs had just two baserunners against Bedard. Reed Johnson walked to lead off the game and Geovany Soto hit a two-out single in the seventh inning. Both were left stranded at first base.
The Pirates lost for just the fifth time in their last 26 home games. They entered the day a half-game behind Cincinnati in the NL Central.
NOTES: Sveum said RHP Matt Garza would "probably not" make his scheduled start Friday against St. Louis. Garza left his start last Saturday at St. Louis after three innings because of cramping in his right biceps. Sveum and Garza both believe a stint on the DL stint will be avoided. ... Chicago LHP Paul Maholm (8-6, 4.09) will face Pittsburgh RHP James McDonald (10-3, 2.93) on Tuesday night. Maholm, who spent the first seven years of his career with the Pirates, is 4-0 with a 0.89 ERA in his last five games, including four starts, while McDonald is on a career-best five-game winning streak.
Credit: newsvine

German GP: Fernando Alonso wins tense race at Hockenheim

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso beat Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel and McLaren's Jenson Button in a close fight to win the German Grand Prix.

The Spaniard became the only man to win three times so far this season.
He drove a controlled race and stayed just far enough ahead of his pursuers to maintain the lead.“Great strategy calls from the team to keep me ahead through the pit stops. I knew it would be a long race to the end”

Fernando Alonso

Button climbed up from sixth on the grid to pass Vettel at the second pit stops but was re-passed with two laps to go.

However, the Englishman was promoted to second place after race stewards gave Vettel a 20-second penalty for his overtake of Button on the penultimate lap.
Lewis Hamilton retired with gearbox damage after running well down the field following an early puncture. But he will not incur any penalty for a gearbox change because of his retirement.
The result extends Alonso's championship lead to 34 points ahead of Red Bull's Mark Webber who had a low-key race to eighth place, never showing any real pace.
Alonso said: "It was tough, not an easy race. Maybe we were not the quickest in dry conditions but we were competitive and it was enough to maintain the lead.
"Great strategy calls from the team to keep me ahead through the pit stops. I knew it would be a long race to the end, with Jenson putting pressure.
"But the car was feeling good on top speed and traction and that was enough to keep the lead into Turn 6, and after that overtaking is not so easy."

Puncture leaves Hamilton frustrated

The only consolation for Hamilton on the occasion of his 100th grand prix was that the McLaren showed encouraging pace following a major performance upgrade.
At one stage, Hamilton unlapped himself on Vettel - although not Alonso - as he attempted vainly to recover from his early set-back. A move which angered the double world champion.
Alonso was never very far in front but was always able to stay just far enough ahead of first Vettel and then Button to ensure they could not use their DRS overtaking aids to pass him into the hairpin at Turn 6.
It led to a tense grand prix in which the identity of the winner was always in doubt until Alonso took the chequered flag.
The Ferrari made a lightening start from pole position and although Vettel quickly closed up the initial gap Alonso had built on the first lap, the Spaniard was able to pull clear before their first pit stops to ensure he held the lead into the second stint.
Meanwhile, Button was fighting past Hulkenberg and then Schumacher, to move quietly into third place.
Vettel emerged from his first pit stop five seconds ahead of Button but the McLaren closed remorselessly on the Red Bull and passed the German by making his second stop a lap earlier.
Vettel emerged from the pits to find Button on his outside on the run to Turn 2, and the McLaren easily took the position.

Previous winners

• 2011 - Lewis Hamilton
• 2010 - Fernando Alonso
• 2009 - Mark Webber
• 2008 - Lewis Hamilton

Button was rarely more than a second behind Alonso from then until the end of the race but the Ferrari driver was always in control and in the closing laps he stretched away as Button began to lose grip in his rear tyres.

Rather than try to take the lead, Button had to spend the closing laps fighting off a late challenge from Vettel, who passed him at the Turn 6 hairpin on the penultimate lap.
Vettel said: "The pace was there but it was extremely difficult when I was close to Fernando and Jenson we seemed to lose a lot and not be able to stay close enough to try to something under braking.
"I am not entirely happy, it could have been a bit better if it was clean air most of the race but that was not the case. Second place was the best we could get today and I am happy with that."
Button said: "It was a close race and I couldn't quite get Fernando at the end.
"When you are in the middle of three you really have to fight and I was pushing a little bit more in the early part of the stint, whereas when you're in front you can coast a bit in the bits where you don't need to push.
"It was close but Fernando knows as we all do where to use Kers to keep someone behind you. I ran out of steam at the end of the straight and the gap was a little bit too big to get back.

German Grand Prix wins by team

• 21 - Ferrari
• 9 - Williams
• 8 - McLaren

"But it was a fun race and it's nice to be on the podium again. I've had my feeling back the last two races but the pace hasn't been there [in the car], but today it was. We're there or thereabouts at the front, still a little way to go."

Raikkonen provided some exciting racing as he moved up from 10th on the grid.
On the way, Raikkonen engaged in top-class racing with Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher and the Force Indias of Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta.
Schumacher finished seventh behind Sauber drivers Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez. Hulkenberg and Di Resta took the final points positions in ninth and 10th.
By Andrew Benson Chief F1 writer at Hockenheim

Sebastian Vettel calls Lewis Hamilton stupid

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Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel called McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton "stupid" for racing him in Germany when he was a lap behind.

Hamilton, delayed by an early puncture, was trying to make up ground and passed Vettel as the German was racing with eventual winner Fernando Alonso.
Vettel said: "I don't see the point in him trying to race us. It is a bit stupid to race the leaders."

“I don't think we need a different rule. I didn't expect him to attack”

Sebastian Vettel

Vettel said it caused him temporarily to lose second place to Jenson Button.

The world champion was passed by the Englishman at the second pit stops, but regained the position two laps from the end, although he is under investigation by the stewards for a potentially illegal overtake.
"That potentially lost me the position to Jenson, I pitted two or three laps after that," Vettel said.
He added: "I don't think we need a different rule, if you want to go quick and you are a lap down and there is no chance to win the race, you should respect it and use common sense. I didn't expect him to attack."
McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh said: "Racing drivers race. If that's stupid, I don't know. [Lewis] was quicker. He overtook and he pulled away, I'm not sure of the stupidity in that but that's for others to comment on."
Hamilton then closed on Alonso, but the Spaniard did not let him get close enough to pass.
"I didn't feel any risk," Alonso said.
"I knew if Lewis was close enough and using the DRS [overtaking aid] and trying to overtake and going for it, I had no problems to leave the space.
"I knew he was not in the race, we did not want to risk anything.

Vettel's July blues

0 - Sebastian Vettel continues his record of never having won an F1 race in July, after 10 attempts

"But for me it was a good to have Hamilton between me and Sebastian because we were approaching the pit stop time, and it means Lewis is one second behind me and Sebastian one to 1.5 seconds behind him. so Sebastian is 2.5 second behind me. So I tried to keep Lewis behind."

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner added: "If you look at the rules, I don't think there is anything to say a car can't unlap itself.
"What was frustrating for us is that it cost us a second and unfortunately he didn't unlap himself from Fernando as well.
"A driver's emotions are going to be running high and its unusual. Usually when you lap a car it doesn't drive back past you.
"It was an unusual situation in that Lewis was on fresh tyres, he was a lap down. In Sebastian's opinion, it affected his race. It did affect his race.
"And of course that's frustrating if it doesn't affect two leaders identically but within the rules he did nothing wrong. Arguably he helped his team-mate."
By Andrew Benson Chief F1 writer at Hockenheim 

Broner dominates Escobedo

Adrien Broner: Reamained unbeaten ahead of move to lightweight

Adrien Broner earned a fifth-round stoppage against Vicente Escobedo after a last-minute agreement was reached to stage the fight.

The bout had originally been called off when Broner came in above the super-featherweight limit, and then also failed to make a newly-agreed weight of 140 pounds on the day of the fight.
But come Saturday afternoon the contest was back on again and the fight went ahead as scheduled at US Bank Arena in Cincinnati.
Broner, who lost his WBO title as a result of the weigh-in issues, stayed patient in the early stages before launching the decisive attack in the fifth round.
The American improved his record to 24-0 after the win in his home town and is now set to move up a division to lightweight.
"I'm going out of my weight class, and I'll take on anyone," Broner said. "Vicente is a world-class fighter. I can't take anything away from him. But he didn't hit me with anything significant. I make all my work easy.
Source: SkySports

Andy Murray 'positive' ahead of Olympics

Andy Murray says he struggled to sleep after losing in the Wimbledon final but has put the pain behind him and is now fully focused on winning Olympic gold.

The British number one was left in tears after his Wimbledon loss to world number one Roger Federer.
"The night of the final wasn't easy. I did not sleep too much, it was tough," admitted the 25-year-old.

Murray ready for Olympic challenge

"I'm feeling positive ahead of the Olympic competition - I really want to do well here [London 2012]."
The Scot added that the first couple of days after losing to Federer were "really hard".
He continued: "I had a few days off where I went go karting with my friends and went to see comedy shows.
"Getting back on the court has helped - I needed to make sure I got over the disappointment quickly."
Murray has not played since Wimbledon and will return to action for the first time during the Olympic tournament, which starts on Saturday 28 July.
The world number four lost to Yen-Hsun Lu in the Beijing Olympics first round in 2008, prompting him to reconsider his build-up this time.

Britain's Olympic tennis team

• Andy Murray - singles world number four and winner of 22 singles and two doubles titles
• Jamie Murray - winner of 2007 Wimbledon mixed doubles (with Jelena Jankovic)
• Colin Fleming - doubles world number 30
• Ross Hutchins - doubles world number 31 who, with Fleming, reached the final of the Hall of Fame Championships in July 2012
• Elena Baltacha - world singles number 100 and former British number one
• Anne Keothavong - currently ranked number 76 in the world
• Laura Robson - winner of Wimbledon girls' singles in 2008 and current world number 91
• Heather Watson - new British singles number one, ranked number 71 overall

"Last Olympics I played in Cincinatti a week before the Games started and arrived three days before," he said. "It was not ideal preparation and I did not understand how much the Olympics meant to me.

"After I lost, it hit me hard. This time I will have been training for two and a half weeks."
In addition to singles action, Murray will also be playing doubles with brother Jamie, who has claimed he would put success in London ahead of winning any other tournament.
"If I could win a gold medal at an Olympic Games or win a Grand Slam I'd take a gold medal, especially here in a home Games," said the older Murray brother.
"When Andy and I play at our best we're probably as good as anyone else out there and I think we're more than capable of competing with any other nation."
Elena Baltacha, Anne Keothavong, Laura Robson, Heather Watson, Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchings complete Britain's Olympics tennis team, with the latter two pairings competing in the doubles only.
For Baltacha, who was involved in the Olympic torch relay, the Games have an added significance.
"This is very special for me because my dad [footballer Sergei Baltacha] won a bronze medal in the 1980 Moscow Olympics [playing for the USSR] and my mum [heptathlete Olga] was picked to compete but she couldn't go in the end because she had to look after my brother [former St Mirren and Millwall footballer Sergei Jr]," she said.
"It's amazing for me to be an Olympian now and to continue this legacy in my family."
Source: BBC Sport

Ernie Els wins as Adam Scott crumbles

THE OPEN: FINAL ROUND LEADERBOARD

• -7: Els (SA)
• -6: Scott (Aus)
• -3: Snedeker (US), Woods (US)
• -2: Donald (Eng), McDowell (NI)
• -1: Aiken (SA), Colsaerts (Bel)
• Selected others: level Poulter (Eng), +6 Westwood (Eng) +8 McIlroy (NI)

Ernie Els clinched his second Open title after long-time leader Adam Scott spectacularly imploded at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

The 42-year-old South African birdied the 18th to end seven under as Australia's Scott bogeyed the last four holes to come second by one shot.
Els, who began the day six shots adrift, clinched his fourth major title and first since winning the 2002 Open at Muirfield.

The putt that won Ernie Els the Open

The 1994 and 1997 US Open champion carded 68 to the 75 of Scott, who had led since the sixth hole on Saturday.
The 32-year-old Scott was four shots clear on the 15th tee and needed to hole from 10ft on the last to force a play-off.
"I am just numb at the moment, I feel for Adam Scott, he is a great friend of mine," said Els, who picked up £900,000 in prize money.
"We both wanted to win so badly, but I really feel for him. That is the nature of the beast, that is why we are out here.
"It was my time. I was hoping at best a play-off. A lot of people never thought I would win but I started believing this year, getting a lot of help from my family and the professionals around me."
Tiger Woods threatened at times but a triple bogey via a greenside bunker at the par-four sixth and three straight bogeys from the 13th sank his chances of a 15th major and first since the 2008 US Open.

Els's Open record at Lytham

• 1996: Joint second with Mark McCumber two shots adrift of American Tom Lehman
• 2006: Joint third behind champion David Duval and Niclas Fasth after final round 69

The 36-year-old carded a three-over 73 to end tied third at three under alongside playing partner and fellow American Brandt Snedeker (74).

Woods said: "It's part of golf - we all go through these phases, some people it lasts entire careers, others are a little bit shorter. Even the greatest players to ever play have all gone through little stretches like this."
Graeme McDowell, the 2010 US Open champion, was playing in the final group for a second straight major but again struggled to engage the leader.
The Northern Irishman took 75 to tie for fifth at two under with England's world number one Luke Donald, who climbed up the leaderboard with a 69.
Scott's capitulation must rank worse than Rory McIlroy's Masters meltdown in 2011 and up there with Jean van de Velde's final-hole drama at Carnoustie in 1999.

Faldo's expert analysis

Nick Faldo Three-time Open champion and BBC Sport analyst

"Els didn't do anything sensational, he just kept playing solid golf.
"They have been rebuilding his putting stroke for years now, but something has clicked psychologically. It is incredible the power of the mind.
"Adam Scott's Achilles heel is pulling his mid irons, which he did at 17. After that he should have throttled back with a two iron or something off the tee at the last to keep out of the bunkers.
"It will be scarring for him to get into such a position in a major. It will take a lot of fixing."

His defeat called to mind his compatriot Greg Norman's loss at the Masters in 1996 when Nick Faldo overhauled a six-stroke deficit to snatch victory at Augusta in the last round.

"I'm very disappointed but I played so beautifully for most of the week I really shouldn't let this bring me down," said Scott.
"I know I've let a really great chance slip through my fingers today, but somehow I'll look back and take the positives from it."
Els, who was ninth at last month's US Open, becomes the 16th consecutive different major champion and moves up from 40th to 15th in the world rankings. He also finished tied second when Royal Lytham hosted the Open in 1996 and tied third when it was last held on the Fylde coast, in 2001.
Scott led by four overnight and was still four clear of second-placed McDowell by the turn as the expected challenge in a stiffening breeze failed to materialise.
Els was six shots adrift after going out in two-over 36 but he edged into the frame with birdies at the 10th, 12th and 14th.
His putt across the final green set up the prospect of a play-off but Scott found a bunker with his drive and was unable to make his par.
Donald, who like Scott is also still searching for a maiden major title, echoed the Australian's feelings, and the feelings of many in the field.
"Certainly I'll leave this week knowing that my game is definitely good enough to win majors," said the 34-year-old, who finished five shots behind Els.
"Unfortunately I couldn't quite hole the putts, but I'll take a lot of positives away from this week."
By Rob Hodgetts BBC Sport at Royal Lytham & St Annes 

Great Heavens claims Irish Oaks

Great Heavens, ridden by William Buick, showed a tremendous turn of foot to take a convincing victory in the Group One Irish Oaks at the Curragh.

The 5-4 favourite is owned by Lady Rothschild and trained by John Gosden, who is enjoying a successful summer.
Shirocco Star (7-1), ridden by Johnny Murtagh, finished second of the seven runners, with Princess Highway (9-4), ridden by Pat Smullen, third.
Shirocco Star and Was led early on, before Great Heavens hit the front.
Once in the clear from two furlongs out, Great Heavens picked up in tremendous style to continue her rapid improvement this season.
Source:BBCSports

Johnson gets 4th straight win at Bandimere track

In this photo provided by NHRA, Pro Stock racer Allen Johnson powers to a track record performance to earn his seventh No. 1 qualifying position of the season Saturday, July 21, 2012, at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals drag races at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo. Johnson, a three-time winner at the Denver-area dragstrip, raced to a performance of 6.951 seconds at 197.97 mph. (AP Photo/NHRA, Teresa Long)

Pro Stock racer Allen Johnson continued his mastery of Bandimere Speedway, racing to his fourth win at the track during the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals on Sunday.

Antron Brown, Jack Beckman and Eddie Krawiec also won in their respective categories at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event near Denver.
Johnson defeated V. Gaines in the Pro Stock finals with a winning run of 6.951 seconds at 197.31, beating Gaines' 7.144 at 160.35. Johnson, the No. 1 qualifier, set a new track record for elapsed time and took over the category points lead with his victory in his Dodge Avenger.
"I am just real proud to be able to give this Wally trophy to Mopar for their 75th anniversary," Johnson said. "I can't say enough about my team this weekend. What a great effort. And to take over the points lead from those Summit guys is just a bonus."
In Top Fuel, Brown defeated Brandon Bernstein, who continues his winless drought. Brown had a winning pass of 3.957 at 308.21 to Bernstein's 3.959 at 307.58. With the victory, Brown moves into second in the points standing.
Beckman powered to his second Funny Car win of the year when he defeated rookie driver Courtney Force with a run of 4.277 seconds at 293.79 seconds in a Dodge Charger to Force's 4.289 at 283.49 in Force's Ford Mustang.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Krawiec defeated teammate Andrew Hines in the final when Hines fouled out, handing the win to Krawiec. This was the fourth win in four final round appearances for Krawiec.
Credit: newsvine

A's rally past Yankees 5-4 in 12 for 4-game sweep

Several players gathered around a high-definition TV on one end of the Oakland Athletics clubhouse, shouting and screaming at the highlights they just made happen with another dose of late-inning drama.

A tying home run. A game-ending single. Players streaming out of the dugout, mobbing the final hitter on the field. A whipped-cream pie in the face — maybe two — and a sports-drink bath to wash it all down.

No matter how many times the scene unfolds, it never seems to get old in Oakland this season.

Seth Smith hit a tying homer in the ninth inning, Coco Crisp singled home the winning run in the 12th and the surging A's rallied from four runs down to stun the New York Yankees 5-4 on Sunday and complete a four-game sweep. Oakland improved to 14-2 in July, the best record in the majors during that span, with a league-leading 11th walk-off win.

"I don't think there was anybody in the dugout or in the stands," Smith said, "who didn't think we were going to win."

Smith homered to center with one out in the ninth off closer Rafael Soriano to force extra innings.

Derek Norris started the final rally with a one-out single off Derek Jeter's glove at shortstop. Jemile Weeks followed with a sacrifice bunt, setting the stage for Crisp to finish off New York.

The AL East-leading Yankees had not been swept in a four-game series since May 2003 against Toronto. All four losses were by one run.
"It's no fun," manager Joe Girardi said.
Crisp's humpback liner to right field on a "nasty sinker" by Cody Eppley (0-2) scored Norris from second without a throw from Andruw Jones, who bobbled the ball as he tried to make the transfer. The A's came streaming out of the dugout to celebrate their fifth straight victory, grabbing whipped-cream pies that have become so routine that concession workers behind the dugout already have them prepared.
"The music after the game. The pie in the face versus the shaving cream. It's always a better feeling to win than to lose," Crisp said. "I guess that's the thing that I like the most right now."
Jerry Blevins (3-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the victory.
A year after Michael Lewis' best-selling book "Moneyball" — which chronicled the 2002 Athletics — hit the big screen and turned general manager Billy Beane into a starring role played by Brad Pitt, Oakland is suddenly back in the AL playoff chase despite baseball's lowest opening-day payroll at about $53 million.

By contrast, the Yankees checked in at around $200 million. A pair of New York stars — slugger Alex Rodriguez ($30 million) and ace CC Sabathia ($24.3 million) — are making more money combined this year than all of the A's.

Still, Oakland is in a three-way tie with Baltimore and the Los Angeles Angels for the two American League wild-card spots.
"To keep competing after so many games where you're so drained and then compete as hard as we've competed all year in this game, you've got to find that pretty special," A's manager Bob Melvin said.
Crisp became the first A's player to have two game-ending RBIs this season, following his sacrifice fly against Boston on July 3.

Brandon Inge and Kurt Suzuki hit solo home runs off Sabathia, who allowed three runs and six hits in seven innings to outlast former teammate Bartolo Colon.

But the surprising A's delivered another win because of the long ball.
Smith sent his 11th home run just over the 400-foot sign in center. It was the first homer of the season allowed by Soriano, who blew his second save in 26 chances this season while filling in for injured Mariano Rivera.
"Everybody has a bad day," Soriano said. "Today was the second time for me."
The Yankees had chances to rally back.
After singles by Robinson Cano and Eric Chavez, Grant Balfour struck out Jeter looking for the final out of New York's 10th inning.
Josh Reddick had trouble with Mark Teixeira's fly ball in the sun in right field leading off the 12th. The ball glanced off Reddick's glove for an error, and Teixeira slid in safely at second after shortstop Eric Sogard couldn't handle the throw.
Blevins forced flyouts by Cano, Raul Ibanez and Chavez between an intentional walk to Rodriguez to keep the game tied.
Strong pitching carried Oakland all series — and has all month, really.
The Yankees chased Colon after he allowed eight hits and one intentional walk in 6 2-3 innings. Colon struck out five while tossing 84 pitches.
Teixeira blooped an RBI single to center for the fourth straight soft single to begin the third inning, and Rodriguez drove in a pair with a one-out double off the wall in left-center to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead.
Curtis Granderson followed with a two-out shot in the fourth — on an 0-2 pitch from Colon — that landed in the seats in right field for his 26th home run.
Inge and Suzuki each hit solo home runs to left in the fifth to slice New York's lead to 4-2. The long ball was the 10th this season for Inge and first for Suzuki, who snapped a career-long drought of 78 games.
It was the third time this year that Sabathia, who grew up about 30 miles north of Oakland in Vallejo, has allowed two home runs in a game.
The A's picked up another run in the sixth when Inge beat out a potential double play to allow Yoenis Cespedes to score.

The four-game sweep was a far cry from New York's first visit to Oakland in late May when the Yankees overwhelmed the A's in a three-game sweep to extend their winning streak at the Coliseum to nine games. That was part of a nine-game overall losing streak for the A's, who have recovered to post the second-best record in the majors behind the Yankees since June 2.

NOTES: Oakland's opening-day starter, RHP Brandon McCarthy (strained shoulder), is scheduled to toss three innings Wednesday at the team's facility in Arizona. McCarthy hasn't pitched since June 19. ... Oakland has Monday off before opening a three-game series at Toronto on Tuesday. The Yankees begin a three-game series at Seattle on Monday.

source: Yahoo