AP Thursday Sports Roundup

MLB-SCHEDULE

Yanks go long ball on Orioles...Molina rallies Cards for 60th victory...7 straight for Angels

UNDATED (AP) — Comeback player of the year in the American League? Your early favorite could be Alex Rodriguez.

A-Rod connected on his 20th home run of his renaissance season, Mark Teixeira connected for an early two-run shot and the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-3. The Orioles have lost 11 of 15 to fall six games back of the AL East leaders.

Ivan Nova ended the first three-start losing streak of his career, and the AL East leaders won for the eighth time in 10 games. Nova is 2-3.

In other baseball:

__ Yadier Molina came through with an eighth-inning bases-loaded, three-run triple to the opposite field to rally the St. Louis Cardinals past the Chicago White Sox 3-2. That's the major league-leading 60th victory for the NL Central leaders. It was the first triple for the All-Star catcher since 2011, and only the fourth of his career.

— The AL West-leading L.A. Angels ran their winning streak to seven with a 5-2 win over Minnesota. Catcher Chris Ianetta homered for the second straight night and had two hits. Huston Street notched his 300th career save. About the only downer for the Angels was third baseman David Freese is headed to the DL after fracturing his thumb after getting hit by a pitch.

— Ex-Pirate Edinson Volquez pitched effectively into the eighth inning against his old team and Mike Moustakas hit a three-run homer to lead the Kansas City Royals over Pittsburgh 5-1. Volquez is 9-5. He won 13 games last season for the Pirates. Pittsburgh opens a key four-game series tonight at home against Washington.

— Michael Taylor had a tying two-out, two-run single in the eighth inning and Danny Espinosa followed with an RBI double to give Washington a 4-3 win over the Mets. The Nationals took two of three in the series to open up a three-game lead over the second-place Mets in the NL East.

— Mike Bolsinger threw seven effective innings to help the L.A. Dodgers top Atlanta 3-1 and salvage the final game of their three-game series. Bolsinger didn't allow an earned run and at one point retired 14 in a row. Braves starter Julio Teheran struck out seven of the first 10 batters and had the Dodgers off balance until giving up three runs in the fifth.

— Preston Tucker homered twice and drove in three runs and Evan Gattis added a solo shot to give the Houston Astros a 4-2 victory over the Boston. The Red Sox have lost a season-high seven in a row.

__Jose Fernandez struck out 11 in seven innings and the Miami Marlins held off the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3. A.J. Ramos struck out three straight with the bases loaded in the ninth for the save. Fernandez was sharp in his fourth start since returning from Tommy John surgery. He is 3-0.

__ Taylor Teagarden singled home the tiebreaking run off Aroldis Chapman with two outs in the ninth inning, completing the Chicago Cubs' biggest comeback of the season for a 6-5 win and a doubleheader split with the Cincinnati Reds. The Cubs overcame a five-run deficit. Cincinnati won the opener 9-1 behind another strong showing by Mike Leake, who is the subject of trade rumors in Cincinnati.

__ In a battle of underachieving AL teams, Detroit worked over Seattle 9-4. Ian Kinsler led Detroit's 13-hit attack by going four for five with two runs scored. Nick Castellanos hit a grand slam in an eight-run third inning.

— Pinch-hitter Odubel Herrera delivered the game-winning single in the bottom of the 10th inning to give Philadelphia a 5-4 win over Tampa Bay. The Phillies are 5-1 since the All-Star break after losing a franchise record 62 games before the mid-summer classic.

—Michael Brantley had four hits including a home run and drove in four runs to lead Cleveland to a 7-5 win over Milwaukee. Brantley hit a three-run homer in the third off of starter Kyle Lohse then had a tie-breaking RBI single in the fifth to put Cleveland on top to stay.

— Brandon Belt hit a tying solo home run in the sixth inning and Buster Posey hit a go-ahead, two-run double in the seventh to lead the San Francisco Giants to a 7-1 victory over the San Diego Padres.

— Elvis Andrus hit a tiebreaking two-run single in the ninth, and the Texas Rangers bounced back from blowing an early five-run lead to beat the Colorado Rockies 10-8.

__ And in 10 innings, Oakland defeated Toronto 4-3. Ike Davis drove in the winning run with an infield single.

SOCCER-GOLD CUP

Jamaica stuns Team USA in semis

ATLANTA (AP) — Jamaica, ranked No. 76 in world soccer, stunned the United States with a pair of first-half goals in a 2-1 victory in the Gold Cup semifinals.

Darren Mattocks put the Reggae Boyz ahead with 31st-minute header off a throw-in. Giles Barnes followed five minutes later with a goal on an 18-yard free kick after Team USA goaltender Brad Guzan was caught going outside the penalty area on a routine throw.

Michael Bradley scored in the 48th minute for the Americans, but it wasn't enough to prevent a stunning setback in front of sold-out crowd at the Georgia Dome. Jamaica now advances to the Gold Cup final for the first time and will face Mexico in Sunday's championship.

The Americans had played in five straight Gold Cup finals. Instead, Team USA will face the loser of Wednesday's second semifinal in the third-place game on Saturday against Panama.

SOCCER

Howard wants back

LONDON (AP) — Veteran U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard says he is ready to make himself available for the U.S. national team again after taking a break since the 2014 World Cup. The 36-year-old, who plays for Everton in the English Premier League, was allowed a sabbatical from international soccer in August last year but he could now return after the Gold Cup.

Howard is targeting the United States' friendly match against Peru on Sept. 4.

NBA-PLAYOFFS

Format change could be coming

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — NBA commissioner Adam Silver says the league is leaning toward not guaranteeing a playoff spot to a team that wins its division. Silver says no decision has been made, but he believes it's likely that teams will qualify for the postseason only if they have one of the top eight records in their conference. Being a division winner would not assure a team of a playoff spot.

Division winners are currently guaranteed no worse than the No. 4 seed, though that's expected to be changed before next season. Portland got that spot in the Western Conference last season by winning the Northwest Division, but the Trail Blazers would have been seeded sixth by win-loss record.

NHL-DUCKS

Anaheim comes to terms on deal with Manson

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Defenseman Josh Manson and the Anaheim Ducks have agreed to a two-year, $1.65 million contract extension through the 2017-18 season. He made his NHL debut and played 28 games for the Ducks last year, collecting three assists. Manson was a sixth-round pick by Anaheim in 2011. He is the son of longtime NHL defenseman Dave Manson.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL-SPURRIER

At 70, Spurrier says he's in it for the long haul

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Steve Spurrier has a message for all those "enemies" out there, saying he will remain South Carolina's coach for a long time. Spurrier says he's not too old at 70 to coach and is not leaving the school where he has coached the past 10 years and is the team's career victory leader with an 84-45 record with the Gamecocks.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL-ARKANSAS

3 Razorbacks dismissed from team after counterfeit arrest

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Police arrested three University of Arkansas basketball players, alleging they used counterfeit money to buy merchandise at three locations near campus.

After the arrests, the school announced indefinite suspensions for starting point guard Anton Beard, forward Jacorey Williams and junior transfer student Dustin Thomas.

Fayetteville police said all three were seen on surveillance video using counterfeit $20 bills last Friday and Saturday. The complaint said Beard also exchanged six counterfeit $50 bills for three $100 bills.

The three were arrested on suspicion of forgery and face a Friday court hearing. They were being held Wednesday afternoon without bail.

TENNIS-FISH

American to call it quits after US Open

NEW YORK (AP) — Former top-10 player Mardy Fish says the U.S. Open will be the last tennis tournament of his career.

The 33-year-old American has played just one competitive match since August 2013 as he's dealt with anxiety issues. Fish will use a protected ranking to gain entry to the singles field for the year's last Grand Slam event.

TOUR DE FRANCE

Froome remains the man to beat

PRA LOUP, France (AP) — Germany's Simon Geschke won a tough and dangerous Stage 17 of the Tour de France. The bearded Geschke won the stage held in the Alps with a solo breakaway and on a treacherous descent. Race leader Chris Froome showed his bike-handling skills on the last high-speed descent where 2007 and 2009 winner Alberto Contador suffered a problem with his bike, costing him time.