Hamilton claims pole for U.S. Grand Prix
AUSTIN — Lewis Hamilton stormed through qualifying Saturday to grab pole position for the U.S. Grand Prix, with title rival Sebastian Vettel getting a big push on his final lap to grab second.
That sets up a Sunday duel as Hamilton chases a possible fourth career season championship. The Mercedes driver holds a 59-point lead over Vettel with four races to go, and Vettel will be desperate to push for the win.
Hamilton has dominated the Circuit of the Americas, setting track records Friday and Saturday. He will be chasing his fourth consecutive win here and fifth overall since 2012.
If Hamilton can win another championship, he would become the only British driver with four and would join Vettel and Alain Prost as four-time champions. Only Germany’s Michael Schumacher (7) and Argentina’s Juan Manuel Fangio (5) have won more.
In other motor sports news:
• Christopher Bell raced to his first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory, beating dominant Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Erik Jones after they made contract with four laps left at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan.
Thomas, Brown lead at CJ Cup
Justin Thomas fired a 2-under 70 in windy conditions to share a twostroke lead with fellow American Scott Brown after the third round of the CJ Cup in Jeju, South Korea.
Thomas offset a lone double bogey and a bogey with five birdies to reach the clubhouse at 9-under 207. Brown had back-toback bogeys on Nos. 10 and 11 but recovered with two birdies on the back nine for a 71.
Anirban Lahiri of India moved into a share of third place with Australian Marc Leishman (71) after a 69. In other golf news: • Eun-Hee Ji carded a 3-under 69 to open up a six-stroke lead after the third round of the Taiwan Championship in Taipei, Taiwan. Ji, who shared the overnight lead with Jenny Shin, recovered from a bogey on the par-4 5th with four birdies for a total of 10-under 206.
Lydia Ko carded seven birdies against a bogey and a double bogey on the 17th for the day’s lowest round of 68 and is tied for second with Shin at 4-under 212. Shin had three bogeys on her way to a 75.
• Bernhard Langer matched the course record with a 9-under 63 on to take a three-stroke lead over Fellow Hall of Famer Vijay Singh in the Dominion Energy Charity Classic, the first event in the PGA Tour Champions’ Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs.
Langer had nine birdies in his second straight bogey-free round to reach 14-under 130 on The Country Club of Virginia’s James River Course in Richmond, Va.
• Tournament host Sergio Garcia will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Andalucia Valderrama Masters after shooting a 3-under 68 in Sotogrande, Spain.
The Spaniard had six birdies and three bogeys to reach 8 under for the tournament, just ahead of English golfer Daniel Brooks.
Bosio out as Cubs’ pitching coach
Chris Bosio is finished as the Cubs’ pitching coach after six seasons.
A person familiar with the situation said Chicago will not pick up his contract option for next season.
Bosio’s dismissal comes after the Cubs were eliminated by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Championship Series.
Bosio worked under three managers in Chicago and helped oversee a transformation of the pitching staff that contributed to a drought-busting World Series Championship last year and three straight trips to the NLCS. In other news: • The San Francisco Giants reassigned longtime pitching coach Dave Righetti from manager Bruce Bochy’s field staff to special assistant to the general manager, working under Bobby Evans.
The club announced Righetti’s role change to the front office Saturday, along with bullpen coach Mark Gardner moving into a special assignment job assisting in pitching evaluations. Assistant hitting coach Steve Decker is now a special assistant in baseball operations.
Righetti’s 18 years as pitching coach marked the longest run in the position in San Francisco history.
Sharks’ Couture records hat trick
Anders Lee had two goals and an assist to lead the host New York Islanders to a 5-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks.
Logan Couture scored all three goals for the Sharks, completing the hat trick with 1:52 left. In other NHL action: • Wayne Simmonds scored on a feed from Valtteri Filppula with 2:15 left to break a tie and lead the host Philadelphia Flyers to a 2-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.
• Kevin Hayes and Jimmy Vesey each had a goal to help the New York Rangers beat the visiting Nashville Predators 4-2.
UH beats Baylor in exhibition
Rob Gray had 25 points and 11 assists to lead the University of Houston to an 81-78 victory over No. 24 Baylor in an exhibition in Waco.
Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. led Baylor with 18 points.