MLB: Brutal beat for Angels
In Kansas City, Mo., Ernesto Frieri needed just four pitches to ruin a spectacular start by Zack Greinke, giving up two home runs in the ninth inning as the Royals rallied to hand the playoff-contending Angels a stunning 3-2 loss.
In Houston, Dallas Keuchel pitched five-hit ball into the sixth inning and the 99-loss Astros beat the Phillies 5-0, slowing their surge for an NL wild-card spot.
In Toronto, Pedro Ciriaco drove in the tiebreaking run with a two-out double in the ninth inning, Cody Ross hit a solo homer and the Red Sox won their second straight, beating the Blue Jays 3-2.
In Minneapolis, Francisco Liriano took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, Paul Konerko homered and drove in three runs, and the White Sox stayed on top of the AL Central with a 5-3 victory over the Twins, Liriano’s former team.
In Cleveland, Anibal Sanchez took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and the Tigers beat the Indians 5-3 to remain a game behind the White Sox.
Andrew McCutchen homered and reached base four times, and the Pirates held off a late rally to snap a seven-game losing streak with a 7-6 win over the Cubs.
In Atlanta, pinch-runner Jeff Baker scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning when reliever Ryan Mattheus hit Andrelton Simmons’ uniform with a bases-loaded pitch that helped the Braves beat the Nationals 5-4. Atlanta is now 6 1/2 games behind Washington in the NL East.
TENNIS: Bryans roll over Spain
The Bryan brothers delivered as expected. That just leaves John Isner to perform the unexpected against defending champion Spain for the U.S. to possibly reach the Davis Cup final. Mike and Bob Bryan won their doubles match against Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 in Gijon, Spain, to cut Spain’s semifinal lead to 2-1.
Today, the 6-foot-9 Isner will face David Ferrer, who is 15-0 on clay in Davis Cup competition.
AUTO: Johnson wins Sprint pole
Jimmie Johnson won the pole yesterday for this weekend’s Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. — an impressive start for the five-time champion whose streak of Cup titles came to an end last year. The 2012 Chase for the Sprint Cup begins with today’s 400-mile race. Johnson’s run of five straight championships was snapped last season, when Tony Stewart took the title.
In Fontana, Calif., Ryan Hunter-Reay put the American flag back atop the IndyCar podium by snatching the championship away from Will Power in the season finale. Power’s early crash meant Hunter-Reay had to finish fifth or better — he wound up fourth.
ETC: Martinez, Alvarez win Vegas fights
In Las Vegas, Sergio Martinez gave Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. the beating he promised for 11 rounds, then barely survived being knocked out in the final round to win the middleweight title he once held. … Across town, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (41-0-1, 30 KOs) stopped Josesito Lopez late in the fifth round, defending his WBC 154-pound title with a relentless display of power.
The Islanders and left winger Matt Martin agreed to a four-year contract. The 23-year-old Martin had seven goals, seven assists and set an NHL record with 374 hits last season.