Mariners sweep Astros
Edwin Diaz was supposed to be off on Sunday after earning saves in each of the last three games for the Seattle Mariners. Instead, after the Mariners tied the Houston Astros in the ninth inning, the All-Star closer told bullpen coach Brian De Lunas to call the dugout to say that he wanted to try to make it four in a row. Ryon Healy hit a tying home run with two outs in the ninth, Mitch Haniger delivered an RBI double in the 10th and Diaz finished up as the visiting Mariners beat Houston 4-3 to sweep a fourgame series from the AL West leaders. Diaz allowed one hit in a scoreless 10th for his major league-high 46th save. It’s the first time in franchise history that Seattle swept a four-game series from the Astros. The third-place Mariners pulled within four games of Houston.
AUTO RACING Harvick wins at Michigan
Kevin Harvick capped off his father-son weekend by dominating a race and putting 6-year-old son Keelan in the passenger seat to hold the flapping, checkered flag out of the window. “That was definitely way up there on the bucket list,” Harvick said. Harvick broke a tie atop NASCAR’s Big 3 by easily winning at Michigan International Speedway for his Cup-high seventh victory of the season.
His No. 4 Ford finished 3-plus seconds ahead of Brad Keselowski’s No. 2 Ford on Sunday in the Consumers Energy 400. Points leader Kyle Busch finished third in his No. 18 Toyota — more than 4 seconds behind Harvick.
SOFTBALL Canada finishes third at worlds
Canada had to settle for third at the women’s world softball championship after falling 3-0 to host Japan on Sunday. Joanne Lye went 2 for 3 for Canada at the plate. Victoria Hayward and Erika Polidori were the only other Canadian hitters to reach base with a hit. In the championship final, Japan lost 7-6
to the United States in extra innings. The event doubled as a qualifier for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
FOOTBALL Deceased player’s family targets coach
The attorney for the family of the University of Maryland football player who died after a strenuous off-season workout is calling for Terrapins coach DJ Durkin to be fired, citing the abusive culture of the program and the team’s failure to properly react after offensive lineman Jordan McNair fell ill on the practice field. The 19-year-old McNair was hospitalized May 29 and died June 13. McNair family attorney Billy Murphy Jr. said Sunday the preliminary death certificate showed “symptoms of heatstroke are present.” Durkin was placed on administrative leave Saturday in the wake of reports that he and his staff mistreated players since his arrival at the campus two years ago. Murphy says, Durkin “should be fired immediately.”