Former Braves righty passes
DENVER, N.C. — Former MLB pitcher Tony Cloninger, perhaps best known for hitting two grand slams in a game, has died. He was 77. Cloninger died Tuesday. He had worked as a consultant for the Boston Red Sox since 2002, and the team announced his death Saturday. Cloninger was a high school star in the North Carolina community of Denver, then went 113-97 during 12 seasons in the big leagues, mostly with the Braves. The right-hander was 24-11 for Milwaukee in 1965, the club’s last season before moving to Atlanta. On April 12, 1966, Cloninger threw the first pitch for the new Atlanta franchise. Pitching at what was then called Atlanta Stadium, he started on opening day and tossed all 13 innings in a 3-2 loss to Pittsburgh — a home run by Willie Stargell broke the tie. It was later that season, with a bat, that Cloninger put himself into the record book. Playing at Candlestick Park, Cloninger became the only pitcher to hit two grand slams in the same game. He drove in nine runs that day, in fact, getting three hits as the Braves routed the San Francisco Giants 17-3. Cloninger hit five of his 11 career home runs in 1966. After leaving the majors, Cloninger was a big hitter for a nationally recognized softball team in North Carolina.
SOCCER
› EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — Lindsey Horan scored in the 90th minute to give the United States women’s national soccer team a 1-1 draw with Australia on Sunday night in the Tournament of Nations. Horan scored on a bouncing header off a well-placed corner kick from Megan Rapinoe.
The tie extended the Americans’ undefeated streak to 18 games. It was Horan’s sixth international goal. The United States, ranked No. 1 in the world, is gearing up for World Cup qualifying in October. The Americans hope to repeat as champions next summer in France. Eighth-ranked Australia, which has already secured a spot in France, struck first Sunday when Lisa De Vanna
charged the ball upfield before passing off to Chloe Logarzo
for a goal in the 22nd minute. The Matildas, the reigning Tournament of Nations champions, beat the United States 1-0 last year. That was the Americans’ most recent loss; they’ve gone 15-0-3 since. Sunday’s result put the United States and Australia atop the tournament standings with four points apiece.
› SAO PAULO — Neymar
used a sponsor’s ad to admit he exaggerated some of his reactions after being fouled during the World Cup in Russia. The video, released Sunday and broadcast on several Brazilian TV networks, features the striker accepting criticism for the first time and promising to pick himself up. The striker scored two goals in the tournament and was not too disappointing until his team got knocked out by Belgium in the quarterfinals, but fans and players have spoken much more about his theatrics on the field, which included dives, rolling and frequent arguing with referees. “You may think I exaggerate. And sometimes I do exaggerate. But the truth is I suffer on the pitch,” Neymar said in the ad sponsored by personal care products maker Gillette. Since Brazil’s elimination, Neymar only spoke about the defeat in Russia via Instagram.