
AP Sports Summary for Sunday, August 25th, 2024:
Harrison Burton wins a wild NASCAR Cup race at Daytona for a playoff berth no one saw coming
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) β Harrison Burton won a wild Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway. He held off two-time series champion Kyle Busch in overtime for his first career victory and a spot in NASCAR's playoffs. Burton, who already lost his ride in the famed No. 21 Ford with Wood Brothers Racing next season, took the lead from Busch on the final lap thanks to a huge push from little-known Parker Retzlaff. Burton said he "cried the whole victory lap." His dad, Jeff Burton, called the race and radioed down to offer his congratulations.
Aidan Birr makes 44-yard field goal as time expires and Georgia Tech stuns No. 10 Florida State
DUBLIN (AP) β Aidan Birr made a 44-yard field goal as time expired and Georgia Tech upset No. 10 Florida State 24-21 in the first major college football game of the season. Coming off an undefeated regular season, but with a remade roster, the Seminoles tied the game at 21 with 6:33 left in the fourth quarter on a 15-play touchdown drive that included two fourth-down conversions by DJ Uiagalelei. Florida State never touched the ball again, and Birr came on with 5 seconds left on the clock to drill the winner.
Deion Sanders' quest to keep negativity out of Colorado's program includes shutting out columnist
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) β Deion Sanders is adamant about keeping negativity out of his life and his football program at Colorado. He even had a newspaper columnist barred from asking questions at football-related events over what he deemed as pessimistic coverage. Sanders spent his summer integrating a new offensive line and two new coordinators β and squabbling with the media. As he prepared for the Buffaloes' season opener against FCS powerhouse North Dakota State, the second-year Colorado coach was asked Saturday if he ever felt persecuted "by outside noise." He said, "This is a way of life for me."
Keegan Bradley takes a 1-shot lead over Adam Scott at BMW Championship
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (AP) β Keegan Bradley finished a wild day at Castle Pines with a birdie for a 70 and a one-shot lead over Adam Scott. The relentless wind in high altitude caused fits. Bradley had eight birdies and he still only shot 70. Adam Scott hit two tee shots out-of-bounds and another in the water. He didn't make a birdie until the 11th hole and escaped with a 74 to be in the final group. Ludvig Aberg had a nose bleed on the first hole and at one point had a three-shot lead. He and Alex Noren were two back.
Barry Bonds is at peace with his legacy as he enters the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame
PITTSBURGH (AP) β Barry Bonds says he doesn't worry any more about whether he'll be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The 60-year-old Bonds says he only hopes whatever accolades remain out there for him come while his mother Patricia is still alive. Bonds spoke Saturday after being inducted into the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame alongside manager Jim Leyland and catcher Manny Sanguillen. Bonds spent his first seven seasons in the majors in Pittsburgh, where he won the first two of his record seven NL MVP awards. Bonds called his time with the Pirates "the greatest stop for me."
US Open 2024: Novak Djokovic seeks a record 25th Grand Slam title after getting his Olympic gold
NEW YORK (AP) β Novak Djokovic is back on the Grand Slam scene after finally earning his first Olympic gold medal. Djokovic is the defending champion at the U.S. Open and is seeking a record 25th Grand Slam singles trophy. He also will be trying to become the first man to win at least two consecutive titles at Flushing Meadows since Roger Federer won five in a row from 2004 to 2008. Play in the year's last Grand Slam tournament begins Monday. Djokovic will face 138th-ranked Radu Albot of Moldova at night in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani throws off a mound for 1st time since elbow surgery last fall
LOS ANGELES (AP) β Shohei Ohtani has thrown off a mound for the first time since having elbow surgery last year that has kept the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar from pitching this season. Ohtani has been rehabbing his pitching arm while making history with his bat. He reached 40 home runs with a two-out, grand slam in the ninth inning and 40 stolen bases with a swipe in the fourth inning Friday night against the Tampa Bay Rays. Ohtani threw 10 pitches. The team has said he won't be pitching at all this season, including the playoffs. He's been playing as a designated hitter.
Novak Djokovic gets why tennis players have questions about Jannik Sinner's steroids case
NEW YORK (AP) β Novak Djokovic says he understands why Jannik Sinner's lack of a suspension despite two positive drug tests has some tennis players questioning whether there's a double standard in the sport. Djokovic says Saturday tennis needs clear protocols, and it's fair for some players to wonder if they didn't receive them. Sinner tested positive twice in March for an anabolic steroid, but the International Tennis Integrity Agency determined the banned performance-enhancer entered his system unintentionally through a massage from his physiotherapist. The ruling was announced less than a week before Sinner begins the U.S. Open as the No. 1-seeded man.
US Open 2024: Carlos Alcaraz twists his ankle in practice but says he is OK
NEW YORK (AP) β Carlos Alcaraz has cut short a pre-U.S. Open training session after twisting his right ankle but said he isn't worried that it'll be a problem for the year's last Grand Slam tournament. He said Saturday that he stopped practicing just as a precaution. The 21-year-old from Spain won the championship at Flushing Meadows in 2022 for the first of his four major trophies. Alcaraz said he didn't think the injury would put his participation in the U.S. Open in doubt. He was more upset about losing time on court as he gets ready to try to win what would be a third consecutive Slam title after triumphs at the French Open in June and Wimbledon in July.
Bowden Francis carries a no-hit bid into the 9th inning as the Blue Jays beat the Angels 3-1
TORONTO (AP) β Bowden Francis struck out a career-high 12 in a dominant performance for the Toronto Blue Jays, carrying a no-hitter into the ninth inning of a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. Francis walked three and hit a batter in his third consecutive win. He threw a career-high 117 pitches, 84 for strikes. Francis was working on a no-hitter before Taylor Ward drove a 3-2 fastball deep to center for a leadoff homer in the ninth. It was Ward's 17th homer of the season. The crowd of 34,011 then saluted Francis with a standing ovation when he was replaced by right-hander Chad Green, who earned his 14th save in 14 chances.
AP-Scorecard
TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE
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INTERLEAGUE
Final Colorado 9 N.Y. Yankees 2
Final Arizona 4 Boston 1
Final Milwaukee 9 Oakland 5
Final San Francisco 4 Seattle 3
Final Minnesota 6 St. Louis 0
Final Philadelphia 11 Kansas City 2
Final Tampa Bay 9 L.A. Dodgers 8
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AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Toronto 3 L.A. Angels 1
Final Baltimore 3 Houston 2
Final Cleveland 13 Texas 5
Final Detroit 13 Chicago White Sox 4
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Chicago Cubs 14 Miami 2
Final Cincinnati 10 Pittsburgh 2
Final Atlanta 4 Washington 2
Final N.Y. Mets 7 San Diego 1
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NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PRESEASON
Final Carolina 31 Buffalo 26
Final Detroit 24 Pittsburgh 17
Final Green Bay 30 Baltimore 7
Final Houston 17 L.A. Rams 15
Final Minnesota 26 Philadelphia 3
Final L.A. Chargers 26 Dallas 19
Final N-Y Jets 10 N-Y Giants 6
Final Seattle 37 Cleveland 33
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TOP-25 COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Final Georgia Tech 24 (10)Florida St. 21
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WOMEN'S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Connecticut 72 New York 64
Final Minnesota 90 Indiana 80
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MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
Final Seattle 3 Minnesota 2
Final tie New York 1 Charlotte FC 1
Final FC Dallas 4 D.C. United 3
Final Miami 2 Cincinnati 0
Final New England 5 CF MontrΓ©al 0
Final tie Chicago 2 New York City FC 2
Final Toronto FC 1 Houston 0
Final Sporting Kansas City 3 Orlando City 0
Final Austin FC 2 Nashville 0
Final San Jose 2 Real Salt Lake 0
Final LA Galaxy 2 Atlanta 0
Final tie St Louis City 4 Portland 4
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