Vettel wins eighth of year at Italian GP
Auto racing: Sebastian Vettel won the Italian Grand Prix from pole position Sunday, fighting off an audacious challenge from defending champion Fernando Alonso.
Vettel’s eighth victory of the year gives the Red Bull driver a chance to clinch his second Formula One title in Singapore later this month.
Vettel clocked 1 hour, 20 minute, 46.172 seconds for the 53-lap race, with McLaren’s Jenson Button crossing 9.590 seconds behind and Alonso 16.909 back at Monza, Italy.
Tseng wins in playoff to defend title
Golf: Top-ranked Yani Tseng successfully defended her title in the LPGA Tour’s NW Arkansas Championship at Rogers, Ark., beating Amy Yang with a 4-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a playoff.
Both players closed with 3-under 68s to finish at 12-under 201 on the Pinnacle Country Club course.
Ai Miyazato (66) was third at 11 under. Cristie Kerr (68) was another stroke back.
Edwall, Wash., resident Wendy Ward closed with a 71 for an even par 213.
Cobo holds on for Spanish Vuelta win
Cycling: Juan Jose Cobo of Spain won the 21-stage Spanish Vuelta, keeping his 13-second lead over Christopher Froome of Britain during the traditional finish in the Spanish capital of Madrid.
Peter Sagan won the closing stage, a 59-mile ride from the Circuito del Jarama race track to the city center.
Giants activate Zito from disabled list
Baseball: The San Francisco Giants activated pitcher Barry Zito, out since Aug. 1 due to a recurring foot and ankle injury, from the 15-day disabled list before playing the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Giants have no immediate plans to return Zito to their starting rotation.
• White Sox shut down Peavy: White Sox starter Jake Peavy will not pitch again this season and the team hopes that rest will help the 2007 N.L. Cy Young Award winner return to full strength next year.
Peavy had shoulder surgery on July 14, 2010, and struggled with fatigue at times this season. The right-hander finished 7-7 with a 4.92 ERA in 111 2/3 innings.
Minnesota’s Kill shows improvement
Miscellany: University of Minnesota head football coach Jerry Kill, who collapsed on the sideline near the end of the Gophers’ home opener Saturday, continued to show signs of improvement and is resting comfortably at a hospital in Minneapolis.
Team physician Dr. Pat Smith said that all tests performed on Kill have come back normal and that further testing would continue as necessary.
• Argentina tops Brazil: Luis Scola scored 32 points to help Argentina beat Brazil 80-75 on Sunday at Mar Del Plata, Argentina, in the championship game of the Olympic basketball qualifying tournament for the Americas.
Both teams earned spots in the London Olympics with their semifinal victories.