Mexico reaches international title game
Little League World Series: Jorge Romero hit a two-run homer in the top of the seventh, and Tijuana, Mexico, rallied past Aguadulce, Panama, 4-2 on Thursday night to earn a berth in the international championship game at South Williamsport, Pa.
Jorge Rodriguez reached on a bunt single before Romero connected against Edgardo Rosales, sending a drive over the wall in center.
The rain-delayed victory set up a rematch between Mexico and Japan (Tokyo) on Saturday. The second game on Thursday’s slate between Westport, Conn., and Sammamish, Wash., for a berth in the U.S. final against Chula Vista, Calif., was moved to today.
Stadler fires 64 at rain-plagued Barclays
Golf: Kevin Stadler teed off just after breakfast and finished right before dinner. It took him nearly 11 hours to complete a 7-under 64 at Liberty National in Jersey City, N.J., his lowest score on the PGA Tour since the first week of February. And he still isn’t guaranteed to be the first-round leader at The Barclays.
The FedEx Cup playoffs got off to a soggy start Thursday with two rain delays that lasted six hours.
It was a start-again, stop-again day on the banks of the Hudson River, but that didn’t stop Stadler. He ran off three birdies early, then returned from the second delay and had four more birdies on a soft golf course.
Only the top half of the draw finished the round. The later starters – Ben Crane played only two holes – were to resume the round this morning then go straight to the second round. That left the top half facing extra holes on Saturday to get the tournament caught up.
• Ko cozy in Canada: Lydia Ko was back on top of the Canadian Women’s Open leaderboard.
The 16-year-old Ko, the winner last year at Vancouver Golf Club at an LPGA Tour-record age of 15 years, 4 months, shot a 5-under 65 in perfect conditions at Royal Mayfair in Edmonton, Alberta, for a share of the first-round lead with Angela Stanford and Christel Boeljon.
Ko, the South Korean-born New Zealander, had six birdies and a bogey.
Boeljon had a hole-in-one with a 9-iron on the 126-yard 16th hole. Wendy Ward, of Edwall, Wash., shot a 70.
El Salvador suspends 22 soccer players
Soccer: The homes of 11 players were raided after El Salvador’s soccer federation suspended 22 players in an investigation into alleged match-fixing by the national team, including games against the United States and Mexico.
Public prosecutors said the raids took place in six cities. Federal prosecutor Luis Martinez said computers, electronic tablet devices and cellphones were among the items seized.
He said authorities will also try to gain access to the bank accounts of those involved.
The prosecutor said there was already evidence of at least three offenses, including money laundering, and warned that not only players could be charged.
Hernandez indicted on murder charge
Football: A Massachusetts grand jury indicted former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez on a first-degree murder charge in the death of a man whose bullet-riddled body was found in an industrial park.
It charges Hernandez with the killing of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional football player who was dating the sister of Hernandez’s girlfriend.
The grand jury also indicted two others connected to Hernandez. Hernandez associate Ernest Wallace is charged with accessory to murder after the fact. A relative of Hernandez, Tanya Singleton, is charged with criminal contempt.
Hernandez pleaded not guilty to murder and weapons charges in June. He had a brief court appearance Thursday and is being held without bail.
Murray could face Djokovic in semifinals
Miscellany: Defending champion Andy Murray could face top-seeded Novak Djokovic in the U.S. Open tennis semifinals, while Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer – who have never played each other at Flushing Meadows – might meet in the quarterfinals.
Thursday’s draw for the year’s last Grand Slam tournament also set up these possible men’s quarterfinals: 2011 champion Djokovic vs. 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro, No. 3 Murray vs. No. 5 Tomas Berdych, and No. 4 David Ferrer vs. No. 8 Richard Gasquet.
The potential women’s quarterfinals are No. 1 Serena Williams against No. 8 Angelique Kerber, No. 2 Victoria Azarenka against No. 7 Petra Kvitova, No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska against No. 5 Li Na, and No. 4 Sara Errani against No. 6 Caroline Wozniacki.
• Solo, Wambach highlight U.S. roster: U.S. national soccer team stars Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan and Hope Solo are among 18 players chosen by coach Tom Sermanni to play Mexico on Sept. 3.
Due to limited training time, Sermanni did not call up any European-based players with the exception of Yael Averbuch, who already will be on the East Coast to attend a wedding.
• Van Garderen moves into lead: Janier Acevedo of Colombia won the hilly and rainy fourth stage of the USA Pro Challenge cycling event in Beaver Creek, Colo., and American Tejay van Garderen finished second to take the overall lead.
Acevedo, riding for Jamis-Hagens Berman, completed the 102.9-mile stage from Breckenride to Beaver Creek in heavy rain in 4 hours, 9 minutes, 8 seconds.