At Tour, Armstrong could finally win French hearts MONACO (AP) — For all of Lance Armstrong’s Tour de France victories, he still hasn’t won the hearts of the French. That may be about to change. “A lot has been made about that relationship between them and myself,” he told The Associated Press by phone this […]

Mariners snap Yankees’ 7-game winning streak, 8-4 MIKE FITZPATRICK,AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Franklin Gutierrez and Russell Branyan homered, leading the Seattle Mariners past CC Sabathia and the Yankees 8-4 on Thursday night to snap New York’s seven-game winning streak. Ichiro Suzuki hit a two-run double that was misplayed by center fielder Melky […]

Braves 5, Phillies 2 Braves complete sweep of Phillies, 5-2 ATLANTA — Matt Diaz drove in the go-ahead run with an eighth-inning double and the Atlanta Braves beat Philadelphia 5-2 to complete their first home sweep of the Phillies in four years. Diaz had his second straight three-hit game to lift the Braves to their […]

Artest going to Lakers HOUSTON (AP) — Ron Artest is joining Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. David Bauman, Artest’s agent, told The Associated Press that the Houston Rockets forward has verbally agreed to play for the NBA champions next season. Bauman said the final details are still being worked out, but could be […]

Eds: Cardinals 5, Giants 2; UPDATES with details. Wellemeyer shuts down Giants in 5-2 victory ST. LOUIS —  Todd Wellemeyer rebounded from his shortest start of the season with 7 1-3 solid innings and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the San Francisco Giants 5-2. Wellemeyer (7-7) allowed two runs and seven hits in his longest […]

Mark Recchi agrees to 1-year deal with Bruins BOSTON (AP) — Mark Recchi joined the Boston Bruins hoping to win his fourth Stanley Cup ring. He decided to stay to take another shot at it. The NHL’s sixth-leading active goal scorer signed a one-year deal Thursday to return to the Bruins. The 41-year-old Recchi, obtained […]

Astros buzz past Padres The Associated Press SAN DIEGO — Geoff Blum hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs and Houston beat San Diego 7-2 on Thursday in a game delayed 52 minutes in the top of the ninth inning when a swarm of bees took over part of left field at Petco […]

Red Sox’s Jason Bay becomes US citizen BOSTON (AP) — Red Sox left fielder Jason Bay married an American, has two American daughters and makes his living playing America’s pastime. Now he can say he’s an American, too. The 30-year-old from Trail, British Columbia, was among 360 people to become U.S. citizens Thursday in a […]

NASCAR Hall of Fame nominees a who’s who of stars CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Stock car racing giants ranging from Bill France Sr. and Junior Johnson to Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt are among the 25 nominees for NASCAR’s first Hall of Fame class. The announcement Thursday night comes 10 months before the Hall of […]