Phoenix Rising FC to battle Seattle Sounders 2 FC
Phoenix Rising FC hosts Seattle Sounders 2 FC on Saturday night riding a four-match unbeaten streak, including a 3-1 win over Sacramento Republic FC a week ago. The Rising are 9th in the Western Conference standings, three points out of the eighth spot. Seattle has allowed a league-worst 50 goals this season. The match is set to start at 7:30 p.m. at Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex. Fans can also watch it live on YurView Arizona Cox Channel 7 or online at www.PHXRisingFC.com.
Mystics beat Storm in OT to secure 5th playoff spot
WASHINGTON - Elena Delle Donne scored a season-high 37 points and the Washington Mystics secured the fifth playoff spot with a 110-106 overtime victory over the Seattle Storm on Friday night. The victory spoiled Seattle’s Sue Bird breaking the WNBA’s all-time assist record when she recorded her 2,600th career assist in the first quarter to pass Ticha Penicheiro and move into the top spot. At Lynx 110, Sky 87: Sylvia Fowles had 27 points and 12 rebounds for her 20th doubledouble, and Minnesota topped 100 points for the third straight home game with a victory over Chicago. The Lynx set a WNBA record with 35 assists — without injured point guard Lindsay Whalen. They topped the 34 assists that both Los Angeles and Seattle had against Chicago earlier this season. At Liberty 81, Stars 69: Tina Charles and Epiphanny Prince scored 16 points apiece and New York pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat San Antonio and win their ninth straight game. New York (21-12) entered the night having clinched a first-round postseason bye and is a half-game behind Connecticut for the third seed. The Sun played at Phoenix later Friday night. The Liberty, who have not lost since Aug. 4, conclude their regular season against the Dallas Wings on Sunday with a shot of matching the franchise record for consecutive victories.
Rangers’ Beltre could miss rest of season with hamstring strain
ARLINGTON, Texas - Adrian Beltre could miss the rest of the regular season after an MRI on Friday showed a Grade 2 strain in his left hamstring. The Rangers said Beltre is expected to be sidelined for a minimum of four weeks. That would take his recovery into the final weekend of the regular season in which Beltre got his 3,000th career hit. That does leave open the possibility that Angeles Angels four games back of the AL’s second wild card spot with 29 games to play. Beltre was injured in the seventh inning of a 5-1 loss against Houston on Thursday on a slow short hopper. The 38-year-old third baseman fielded the ball and almost immediately hopped up awkwardly.
Astros boost rotation with trade for Tigers’ Verlander
HOUSTON - The Houston Astros acquired Justin Verlander in a trade with the Detroit Tigers on Thursday night, just before the deadline for having players eligible for postseason play. The right-hander joins the American League West leaders and a rotation that is led by Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers.
Mayweather-McGregor fight was pay-per-view smash
LAS VEGAS - Conor McGregor’s improbable challenge of Floyd Mayweather Jr. was a box-office smash. There were between 4 million and 5 million pay-per-view sales. An estimated 50 million people watched in the United States alone. According to preliminary numbers compiled by Showtime PPV, the fight threatens the 4.6 million benchmark set by Mayweather’s 2015 fight with Manny Pacquiao. At $99.95 a buy, the fight is tracking to generate more than $450 million in television revenue, much of which will be shared by the two fighters.
Promoters: Pacquiao-Horn rematch won’t happen this year
BRISBANE, Australia - Manny Pacquiao won’t box Jeff Horn in a rematch of their WBO world welterweight title fight this year because the Filipino senator will be busy with government duties. Pacquiao’s unavailability for a proposed Nov. 12 bout was announced Friday by Australian promoters of the fight. Horn beat Pacquiao in a contentious unanimous decision in Brisbane on July 2. Pacquiao at the time said he wanted a rematch.
Police charge soccer star Rooney with drunk driving
LONDON - Cheshire police say Wayne Rooney has been charged with drunk driving. The 31-year-old Everton striker was reportedly stopped by police near him home outside Manchester early Friday. He has been released on bail and is due to appear in court on Sept. 18.