Off the wire

BASKETBALL

Storm claim 2-0 lead

Breanna Stewart scored 22 points and Seattle moved within a victory of a WNBA championship, beating the Las Vegas Aces 104-91 on Sunday in Bradenton, Fla. The Storm will try to win their fourth title with a victory in Game 3 on Tuesday night. They won championships in 2004, 2010 and 2018, and

Sue Bird was running the show in all three of them. Two days after she set the WNBA Finals and playoffs record with 16 assists, the 39-year-old guard had 10 to go along with 16 points. The team had 33 assists to set a WNBA championship round record as the Storm had a more balanced offense. Stewart had 37 points in the series opener and

Jewell Loyd added 28 in that game. On Sunday, the Storm had five players with 10 or more points. Natasha Howard and Alysha Clark added 21 each to go along with Stewart and Bird’s efforts. Jordin Canada added 10 points of the bench. The Storm took over after Las Vegas had rallied from a 13-point deficit in the first half to take a 65-64 lead with 3:22 left in the third quarter

GOLF

Reid earns first LPGA victory

Mel Reid rapped in a 2- foot birdie putt on the final hole Sunday at the ShopRite LPGA Classic in Galloway, N.J., immediately dropped her putter and ran into the arms of her caddie, Ryan Desveaux. Moments later, she was showered with a mixture of champagne and beer, and the 33-year-old from England grabbed a bottle of bubbly and took a swig. In her first start since losing the final-round lead in Portland, Reid seized control with four birdies in a five-hole stretch around the turn and closed with a 4-under 67 for a two-shot victory over Jennifer Kupcho and Jennifer Song for her first LPGA Tour victory. “I love champagne.

So it was nice to do it. I’ve not had that feeling for a long time, so just relief honestly,” said Reid, who has six Ladies European Tour titles. Reid’s only mistake on the back nine was a bogey on the par-3 17th, which cut her four-shot lead in half when Kupcho and Song each made birdie. Maria Fassi (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a 65 on Sunday and

finished in a tie for 13th, finishing with a 9-under 275. Gaby Lopez (Razorbacks) fired a 71 on Sunday and completed the tournament at 6-under 278. Stacy Lewis (Razorbacks) also shot a 71 on Sunday and turned in a 5-under 279.

Playoff victory for Harmeling

Evan Harmeling made a 10foot birdie putt on the last hole for a 3-under 69, and then made birdie on the first playoff hole to beat Kevin Dougherty and win the Savannah Golf Championship in Savannah, Ga., for his first Korn Ferry Tour victory. Harmeling had a one-shot lead going into the final round but was passed by Doughtery, who had six birdies in 15 holes for a two- shot lead. Dougherty dropped a shot on the par-3 17th, and Harmeling forced the playoff with his birdie on the par-5 18th. Doughtery missed his birdie putt for the win and closed with a 68. Taylor Moore (Razorbacks) shot a 70 on Sunday and finished with a 278, 11 strokes behind Harmeling. David Lingmerth (Razorbacks) turned in a 75 on Sunday and finished with a 283.

Rai captures Scotish Open

Aaron Rai of England closed with a 7-under 64 and then won the Scottish Open in North Berwick, Scotland, on the first playoff hole when Tommy Fleetwood missed a 3-foot par putt. Rai won for the second time on the European Tour, and it comes one week after he lost a 54-hole lead and was runner-up in the Irish Open. He moves into the top five in the Race to Dubai.

BASEBALL

Nationals fire pitching coach

Washington Nationals pitching coach Paul Menhart will not be brought back next season after working in the organization for 15 years. A team spokesman confirmed Sunday that the team would let Menhart go. His contract is up after this season. Menhart was the Nationals’ minor league pitching coordinator when he was brought up to work with the major league club in May 2019, replacing fired pitching coach Derek Lilliquist. The pandemic-altered season was a struggle right from the get-go for Manager Dave Martinez’s team, and Washington finished tied for last in the NL East with a 26-34 record.