Scoreboard
Baseball
American League
East Division
W L Pct GB
Boston 72 53 .576 --
New York 70 56 .556 2 1/2
Toronto 64 63 .504 9
Baltimore 61 65 .484 11 1/2
Tampa Bay 52 76 .406 21 1/2
Central Division
W L Pct GB
Chicago 77 47 .621 --
Cleveland 71 57 .555 8
Minnesota 67 60 .528 11 1/2
Detroit 61 64 .488 16 1/2
Kansas City 42 83 .336 35 1/2
West Division
W L Pct GB
Los Angeles 73 54 .575 --
Oakland 70 56 .556 2 1/2
Texas 59 67 .468 13 1/2
Seattle 54 72 .429 18 1/2
Wednesday's Games
Oakland 9, Detroit 2
Toronto 9, N.Y. Yankees 5
L.A. Angels 3, Baltimore 1
Tampa Bay 13, Cleveland 3
Texas 8, Seattle 1
Kansas City 4, Boston 3, 11 innings
Chicago White Sox 6, Minnesota 4
Thursday's Games
Oakland 11, Detroit 1
N.Y. Yankees 6, Toronto 2
Chicago White Sox 2, Minnesota 1, 10 innings
Seattle 8, Texas 2
Baltimore 2, L.A. Angels 0
Cleveland 12, Tampa Bay 4
Kansas City 7, Boston 4
Friday's Games
Kansas City (Wood 4-4) at N.Y. Yankees (R.Johnson 11-8), 6:05 p.m.
Cleveland (Sabathia 10-9) at Toronto (McGowan 1-1), 6:07 p.m.
L.A. Angels (E.Santana 7-5) at Tampa Bay (Fossum 7-10), 6:15 p.m.
Oakland (Blanton 7-9) at Baltimore (Chen 10-7), 6:35 p.m.
Minnesota (Lohse 8-11) at Texas (Loe 5-4), 7:05 p.m.
Detroit (J.Johnson 7-9) at Boston (Wakefield 12-10), 7:05 p.m.
Chicago White Sox (O.Hernandez 8-6) at Seattle (F.Hernandez 2-1), 9:05 p.m.
Saturday's Games
Kansas City at N.Y. Yankees, 12:05 p.m.
Minnesota at Texas, 12:20 p.m.
Cleveland at Toronto, 3:07 p.m.
Oakland at Baltimore, 3:35 p.m.
L.A. Angels at Tampa Bay, 5:15 p.m.
Detroit at Boston, 6:05 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Seattle, 9:05 p.m.
Sunday's Games
Kansas City at N.Y. Yankees, 12:05 p.m.
Cleveland at Toronto, 12:07 p.m.
Oakland at Baltimore, 12:35 p.m.
Detroit at Boston, 1:05 p.m.
Minnesota at Texas, 1:05 p.m.
L.A. Angels at Tampa Bay, 1:15 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Seattle, 3:05 p.m.
National League
East Division
W L Pct GB
Atlanta 72 55 .567 --
Philadelphia 69 59 .539 3 1/2
Florida 67 60 .528 5
New York 66 60 .524 5 1/2
Washington 66 61 .520 6
Central Division
W L Pct GB
St. Louis 81 47 .633 --
Houston 67 60 .528 13 1/2
Milwaukee 63 65 .492 18
Chicago 61 66 .480 19 1/2
Cincinnati 59 68 .465 21 1/2
Pittsburgh 54 74 .422 27
West Division
W L Pct GB
San Diego 63 63 .500 --
Arizona 58 70 .453 6
Los Angeles 57 69 .452 6
San Francisco 55 71 .437 8
Colorado 48 78 .381 15
Wednesday's Games
Atlanta 3, Chicago Cubs 1
Washington 5, Cincinnati 3
St. Louis 8, Pittsburgh 3
Milwaukee 6, Florida 4
N.Y. Mets 18, Arizona 4
San Diego 7, Houston 4
Colorado 2, L.A. Dodgers 1
Philadelphia 7, San Francisco 4
Thursday's Games
Cincinnati 5, Washington 3
Florida 3, Milwaukee 1, 10 innings
St. Louis 6, Pittsburgh 3
N.Y. Mets at Arizona, 8:40 p.m.
Colorado at L.A. Dodgers, 9:10 p.m.
Friday's Games
Florida (Vargas 4-1) at Chicago Cubs (Rusch 5-6), 1:20 p.m.
Cincinnati (Harang 8-11) at Pittsburgh (Redman 5-13), 6:05 p.m.
St. Louis (Suppan 12-9) at Washington (Loaiza 8-9), 6:05 p.m.
Atlanta (Ramirez 10-7) at Milwaukee (Sheets 9-9), 7:05 p.m.
Philadelphia (Myers 11-6) at Arizona (Halsey 8-10), 8:40 p.m.
Colorado (Francis 11-9) at San Diego (Eaton 9-2), 9:05 p.m.
N.Y. Mets (Trachsel 0-0) at San Francisco (Correia 2-4), 9:15 p.m.
Houston (Pettitte 11-9) at L.A. Dodgers (Lowe 8-12), 9:40 p.m.
Saturday's Games
St. Louis at Washington, 12:20 p.m.
Florida at Chicago Cubs, 12:25 p.m.
N.Y. Mets at San Francisco, 3:05 p.m.
Philadelphia at Arizona, 3:05 p.m.
Atlanta at Milwaukee, 6:05 p.m.
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, 6:05 p.m.
Colorado at San Diego, 9:05 p.m.
Houston at L.A. Dodgers, 9:10 p.m.
Sunday's Games
St. Louis at Washington, 12:05 p.m.
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, 12:35 p.m.
Atlanta at Milwaukee, 1:05 p.m.
Florida at Chicago Cubs, 1:20 p.m.
Colorado at San Diego, 3:05 p.m.
N.Y. Mets at San Francisco, 3:05 p.m.
Houston at L.A. Dodgers, 3:10 p.m.
Philadelphia at Arizona, 7:05 p.m.
Wild card
American League
W L Pct GB
New York 70 56 .556 --
Oakland 70 56 .556 --
Cleveland 71 57 .555 --
Minnesota 67 60 .528 3 1/2
National League
W L Pct GB
Philadelphia 69 59 .539 --
Florida 67 60 .528 1 1/2
Houston 67 60 .528 1 1/2
New York 66 60 .524 2
Washington 66 61 .520 2 1/2
Thursday linescores
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Oakland 212 310 002 -- 11 15 1
Detroit 000 000 010 -- 1 7 1
Zito, Duchscherer (7), Witasick (8) and Kendall; Maroth, German (4), Darensbourg (7), Spurling (8), Dingman (9) and VWilson. W--Zito 12-10. L--Maroth 11-12. HRs--Oakland, DJohnson (11), Payton (16), MEllis (5).
Toronto 011 000 000 -- 2 6 0
New York 400 002 00x -- 6 11 0
Chacin, Walker (6) and Zaun; Chacon, Gordon (8), MRivera (9) and Posada. W--Chacon 3-1. L--Chacin 11-7. HRs--New York, Sheffield (27), ARodriguez (37).
Seattle 200 000 105 -- 8 6 1
Texas 010 000 001 -- 2 6 4
Harris, Putz (8), Guardado (9) and Ojeda, Torrealba (9); Benoit, Brocail (8), Thompson (9) and SAlomar. W--Harris 1-1. L--Benoit 3-4. HRs--Seattle, ISuzuki (13), Ibanez (17).
Los Angeles 000 000 000 -- 0 10 0
Baltimore 000 200 00x -- 2 9 1
Lackey and BMolina; RLopez, Byrdak (8), Williams (8), BRyan (9) and JvLopez. W--RLopez 13-7. L--Lackey 10-5. Sv--BRyan (28). HR--Baltimore, JvLopez (12).
Boston 000 202 000 -- 4 7 0
Kansas City 031 200 10x -- 7 12 1
Schilling, Remlinger (6), Papelbon (7) and Varitek; Lima, Camp (6), Burgos (8), Affeldt (8), MacDougal (9) and PPhillips. W--Lima 5-12. L--Schilling 5-6. Sv--MacDougal (17). HR--Kansas City, Brown (11).
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Cincinnati 100 010 300 -- 5 13 2
Washington 010 000 002 -- 3 9 0
Claussen, Belisle (6), Shackelford (7), Coffey (8), Mercker (9), Weathers (9) and LaRue; LHernandez, Eischen (7), HCarrasco (7), Hughes (8), Stanton (8) and GBennett. W--Claussen 9-8. L--LHernandez 14-6. Sv--Weathers (11). HRs--Cincinnati, Griffey Jr. (30). Washington, Wilkerson (9).
Florida 001 000 000 2 -- 3 8 0
Milwaukee 100 000 000 0 -- 1 11 0
(10 innings)
IValdez, Moehler (6), Mota (7), Alfonseca (9), TJones (10) and Treanor, Lo Duca (7); DDavis, KDavis (8), Turnbow (9), Capellan (10) and Moeller. W--Alfonseca 1-1. L--Capellan 0-1. Sv--TJones (29).
St. Louis 200 010 201 -- 6 13 0
Pittsburgh 100 001 010 -- 3 12 1
Morris, Flores (8), Tavarez (8), Isringhausen (8) and YMolina; DWilliams, Meadows (7), Gonzalez (9) and Doumit. W--Morris 14-5. L--DWilliams 10-10. Sv--Isringhausen (34). HRs--St. Louis, Edmonds (22), Pujols (35).
Late Tuesday
linescores
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Boston 111 000 000 00 -- 3 10 0
Kansas City 001 020 000 01 -- 4 9 1
(11 innings)
Clement, MMyers (8), Bradford (8), Timlin (9), Arroyo (10) and Varitek; DCarrasco, Burgos (6), Affeldt (8), MacDougal (9), Sisco (10) and Buck. W--Sisco 2-2. L--Arroyo 10-9. HRs--Boston, Millar (5). Kansas City, DeJesus (9).
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Colorado 000 000 020 -- 2 6 0
Los Angeles 000 000 010 -- 1 7 0
BKim, Williams (7), DeJean (8), Fuentes (9) and Ardoin; Houlton, Schmoll (8), Brazoban (8), Sanchez (9) and Navarro. W--Williams 2-0. L--Schmoll 2-2. Sv--Fuentes (22).
New York 052 153 101 -- 18 20 1
Arizona 000 000 220 -- 4 8 0
Seo, Heilman (8) and RCastro, DiFelice (8); RuOrtiz, Aquino (5), Groom (6), Lyon (7), Worrell (8), Valverde (9) and Stinnett. W--Seo 6-1. L--RuOrtiz 4-8. HRs--New York, Reyes (6), Wright 2 (20), Jacobs 2 (4). Arizona, ShGreen (19).
Houston 100 010 020 -- 4 8 0
San Diego 101 032 00x -- 7 13 3
Astacio, Harville (4), WRodriguez (5), Springer (5), Gallo (6), Qualls (6), Lidge (8) and Ausmus; Park, Hensley (6), Quantrill (8), Otsuka (8), Hoffman (9) and Olivo. W--Park 3-1. L--WRodriguez 8-6. Sv--Hoffman (32).
Philadelphia 130 011 010 -- 7 14 0
San Francisco 211 000 000 -- 4 9 3
Lidle, Tejeda (5), Madson (7), Urbina (8), BWagner (9) and Lieberthal; Hennessey, Christiansen (6), Hawkins (7), Eyre (8), Benitez (9) and Matheny. W--Tejeda 4-3. L--Hennessey 4-6. Sv--BWagner (31).
Little League
World Series
SEMIFINALS
At South Williamsport, Pa.
At Lamade Stadium
Wednesday's games
International
Japan 11, Canada 0, 5 innings, mercy rule
United States
Rancho Bueno Vista 6, Maitland, Fla. 2
Thursday's games
International
Curacao 16, Guam 1, 5 innings, mercy rule
United States
West Oahu 2, Lafayette, La. 0
Friday's game
Rain Day, no games scheduled
Saturday's games
Rancho Bueno Vista vs. West Oahu, U.S. championship, 2:30 p.m.
Japan vs. Curacao, International championship, 6:30 p.m.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Sunday's games
Third place
U.S. runner-up vs. International runner-up, 11 a.m.
Championship
International champion vs. U.S. champion, 2:30 p.m.
Fishing
BRAINERD/NISSWA
The cooler weather has improved walleye activity on Gull Lake. A redtail minnow and Lindy Rig has worked best in 17 to 26 feet of water. Work similar depths and presentations on North Long Lake and Whitefish Lake for walleyes as well. Bass fishing still is going strong with spinnerbaits along the six- to 12-foot weed edges. Northern pike are hitting along the 12- to 18-foot weedlines on most lakes, but North Long has kicked out bigger fish.
CASS LAKE AREA
The defined weed edges, points, and reed edges are holding muskies on Cass Lake. The active fish are hitting bucktails during lowlight periods of the day. Shad Raps remain the ticket for walleyes during the evening hours. Work the bars and shallow points in 10 to 14 feet of water. A few good-sized perch can be had on Cass and Pike Bay Lake in six to 10 feet of water with small minnows.
CROSS LAKE
Spinner rigs and live bait rigs tipped with leeches are producing walleyes in 30 to 34 feet of water. Bass and northern pike are roaming the outside weed edges and hitting spinnerbaits or sucker minnows. Crappies are being found suspended in 12 to 14 feet of water off the submerged islands and points.
HACKENSACK AREA
Woman Lake started giving up walleyes on redtails and fatheads in 18 to 22 feet of water. Trolling crankbaits after dark on Ten Mile Lake also has produced walleyes in shallow and deep water. There's some crappies biting during the evening hours on Birch Lake. Small jigs and minnows are working best. Look to Pleasant Lake for largemouth bass and Portage Lake for numbers of smallmouth bass. Crankbaits or plastics have worked for both fisheries.
MILLE LACS
East -- During the day, deep-diving crankbaits or spinner rigs are producing a lot of walleyes on top of the mud flats. Slip bobbers and leeches continue to work best during the evening hours in 22 to 30 feet of water. The Blue Jug Flat and Sliver Flat have been most productive this week. A few more muskies over 45 inches were caught this week off the weedbeds on topwater baits. Smallmouth bass reports have dwindled, but there are some nice perch coming from Isle Bay in 15 feet of water.
West -- The walleye action continues to be "the best August bite in years" by most accounts. Minnows and spinners are producing limits of walleyes during the day in 18 to 24 feet of water on Curley's Flat, Sherman's Flat, and Seguchie's Flat. These same areas continue to produce fish at night on slip bobbers and leeches. Some of the best muskie reports are coming from extremely shallow water, close to shore off the rock points and weedlines with topwater presentations. An occasional good-sized perch is caught with the walleyes and smallmouth bass remain active on the shallow rock piles and points.
Transactions
BASEBALL
American League
KANSAS CITY ROYALS--Placed INF Donnie Murphy on the 15-day DL. Recalled OF Aaron Guiel from Omaha of the PCL.
SEATTLE MARINERS--Optioned RHP Clint Nageotte to Tacoma of the PCL. Recalled RHP Jeff Harris from Tacoma.
National League
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS--Optioned RHP Greg Aquino to Tucson of the PCL.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS--Placed OF Milton Bradley on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Aug. 23. Recalled INF-OF Mike Edwards from Las Vegas of the PCL.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS--Placed OF Ryan Church on the 15-day DL. Recalled OF Marlon Byrd from New Orleans of the PCL.
Northern League
EDMONTON CRACKER-CATS--Claimed INF Greg Morrison off waivers from Calgary.
KANSAS CITY T-BONES--Agreed to terms with OF Ross Cook. Released OF Les Norman.
LINCOLN SALTDOGS--Agreed to terms with C Bryan Vickers.
SIOUX CITY EXPLORERS--Agreed to terms with RHP Shayn Holbrook and INF Chris Losett.
SIOUX FALLS CANARIES--Agreed to terms with RHP Matt Koziara.
WINNIPEG GOLDENEYES--Released C Steve Smith.
BASKETBALL
National Basketball Association
CHARLOTTE BOBCATS--Named Michael Behrman senior vice president of finance.
PHOENIX SUNS--Acquired F James Jones from Indiana for a 2008 second-round draft pick. Signed Mike D'Antoni, coach, to a two-year contract extension.
FOOTBALL
National Football League
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS--Released S Antuan Edwards.
TENNESSEE TITANS--Waived WR Earvin Johnson, T Stefan Rodgers and DE Jonathan Jackson.
HOCKEY
National Hockey League
ANAHEIM MIGHTY DUCKS--Signed RW Craig Adams to a one-year contract.
ATLANTA THRASHERS--Traded F Kip Brennan to Anaheim for D Mark Popovic.
BUFFALO SABRES--Acquired D Toni Lydman from Calgary for a 2006 third-round draft pick.
DETROIT RED WINGS--Signed G Jimmy Howard to a three-year contract.
FLORIDA PANTHERS--Announced an arbitrator granted G Roberto Luongo a one-year contract.
MONTREAL CANADIENS--Signed D Andrei Markov to a two-year contract.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS--Named Jack Capuano Jr. assistant coach.
NEW YORK RANGERS--Agreed to terms with D Martin Grenier and F Alexandre Giroux.
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING--Re-signed LW Dave Andreychuk to a two-year contract.
WASHINGTON CAPITALS--Signed C Dave Steckel to a two-year contract.
COLLEGE
COLONIAL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION--Named Ron Bertovich basketball deputy commissioner and Niki DeSantis assistant communications director.
NORTH CENTRAL CONFERENCE--Announced Central Washington and Western Washington will become affiliate members in football beginning with the 2006 season.
BAYLOR--Announced women's basketball F Emily Niemann will transfer to UC Santa Barbara.
BINGHAMTON--Named Ryan Hurba assistant baseball coach.
CITADEL--Named Clyde Wormley men's assistant basketball coach.
COLUMBIA--Named Jen Smith assistant softball coach.
CONNECTICUT--Named Justin Blood assistant baseball coach.
DUQUESNE--Named Michael Scerbo women's lacrosse coach.
EASTERN MENNONITE--Named Mark Mace baseball coach.
GWYNEDD MERCY--Named John Fisher assistant baseball coach.
HAMILTON--Named Doug Rowe men's tennis coach, James Farrar men's assistant lacrosse coach, Michelle Duncan women's assistant volleyball coach, Jillian Wyrick assistant swimming coach and Chris Leavenworth, Chimezle Okobi and David Szentesy assistant football coaches.
LIMESTONE--Named Sean Weddell women's swimming coach.
PENN--Named Kevin Stefanski assistant director of football operations.
PENN STATE BEHREND--Named Anneke Chewning women's assistant basketball coach and Patrick O'Connor men's and women's golf coach and men's assistant basketball coach.
QUINNIPIAC--Named Jared Grasso men's assistant basketball coach.
RHODE ISLAND--Named Tim Volkmann coordinator of sports communications, Kelly Carter assistant coordinator of sports communications and Katie Moore director of marketing.
STANFORD-- Named Kevin Klemm, John Clark and Matt Gentry assistant wrestling coaches.
UCLA--Named Seilala Sua women's assistant track & field coach and Scott Abbott assistant cross country and distance races coach.
Basketball
WNBA
EASTERN CONFERENCE
W L Pct GB
y-Connecticut 24 8 .750 --
x-Indiana 20 13 .606 4 1/2
x-New York 18 15 .545 6 1/2
Detroit 16 17 .485 8 1/2
Washington 15 17 .469 9
Charlotte 6 27 .182 18 1/2
WESTERN CONFERENCE
W L Pct GB
y-Sacramento 24 8 .750 --
x-Seattle 18 14 .563 6
Houston 17 15 .531 7
Los Angeles 16 16 .500 8
Phoenix 16 16 .500 8
Minnesota 14 19 .424 10 1/2
San Antonio 7 26 .212 17 1/2
x-clinched playoff spot
y-clinched conference
Wednesday's Games
No games scheduled
Thursday's Games
Detroit 55, Indiana 40
Charlotte 78, New York 66
Sacramento at Seattle, 9 p.m.
Houston at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Friday's Games
Washington at Connecticut, 6:30 p.m.
Los Angeles at San Antonio, 7 p.m.
Saturday's Games
Detroit at Washington, 5 p.m.
Connecticut at Charlotte, 5 p.m.
Phoenix at Seattle, 5:30 p.m.
New York at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Sacramento at Minnesota, 7 p.m.
Los Angeles at Houston, 7:30 p.m.
End of Regular Season
High school
Volleyball
Thursday's scores
Browerville def. Staples-Motley 27-29, 25-11, 25-12, 25-20
Farmington def. Austin, 25-15, 25-22, 22-25, 25-15
Fridley High School def. Monticello, 25-20, 22-25, 25-23, 20-25, 15-13
International Falls def. Babbitt-Embarrass, 25-16, 25-6, 25-8
Littlefork-Big Falls def. Tower-Soudan, 25-20, 25-19, 16-25, 27-25
Football
NFL preseason
Thursday's Game
Atlanta 23, Jacksonville 7
Friday's Games
Cincinnati at Philadelphia, 6:30 p.m.
Buffalo at Chicago, 7 p.m.
N.Y. Jets at N.Y. Giants, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Washington, 7 p.m.
New England at Green Bay, 7 p.m.
Baltimore at New Orleans, 7 p.m.
Carolina at Cleveland, 7 p.m.
San Diego at Minnesota, 7 p.m.
Arizona at Oakland, 8:30 p.m.
Tennessee at San Francisco, 9 p.m.
Saturday's Games
Tampa Bay at Miami, 6:30 p.m.
Houston at Dallas, 7 p.m.
Indianapolis at Denver, 7 p.m.
Seattle at Kansas City, 7:30 p.m.
Monday's Game
St. Louis at Detroit, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 1
Atlanta at Miami, 6:30 p.m.
Houston at Tampa Bay, 6:30 p.m.
New York Jets at Philadelphia, 6:30 p.m.
Cleveland at Chicago, 7 p.m.
Green Bay at Tennessee, 7 p.m.
Jacksonville at Dallas, 7 p.m.
New York Giants at New England, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Carolina, 7 p.m.
Washington at Baltimore, 7 p.m.
New Orleans at Oakland, 8 p.m.
San Francisco at San Diego, 9 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 2
Detroit at Buffalo, 6 p.m.
Indianapolis at Cincinnati, 6:30 p.m.
Kansas City at St. Louis, 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Seattle, 8 p.m.
Denver at Arizona, 9 p.m.
Falcons-Jaguars
stats
Atlanta 10 10 0 3 -- 23
Jacksonville 0 7 0 0 -- 7
First Quarter
Atl--Jenkins 18 pass from Vick (Peterson kick), 6:06.
Atl--FG Peterson 40, 2:35.
Second Quarter
Jac--Toefield 4 run (Scobee kick), 14:20.
Atl--FG Peterson 40, 8:11.
Atl--Jenkins 4 pass from Schaub (Peterson kick), :11.
Fourth Quarter
Atl--FG Peterson 38, 6:08.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Atlanta, Dunn 8-65, Duckett 8-33, Vick 4-30, M.Jackson 5-20, Griffith 2-15, Randall 3-7, Schaub 1-6. Jacksonville, Pearman 6-27, Taylor 4-18, Toefield 6-12, Garrard 1-11, Wimbush 4-9, Allen 2-8, Alexis 2-7, G.Jones 2-(minus 4).
PASSING--Atlanta, Vick 5-10-0-44, Schaub 8-14-1-34. Jacksonville, Leftwich 11-20-0-179, Garrard 9-20-1-108.
RECEIVING--Atlanta, Jenkins 4-35, McCray 3-14, Crumpler 2-13, Finneran 1-15, Magner 1-3, Dunn 1-0, C.Davis 1-(minus 2). Jacksonville, Owens 4-50, Wilford 2-59, M.Jones 2-55, J.Smith 2-37, Edwards 2-23, Wrighster 2-23, Taylor 2-8, B.Jones 1-12, Pearman 1-11, R.Williams 1-5, Toefield 1-4.