AP Tuesday Sports Roundup

MLB-SCHEDULE

Jays beat Rays, while Phils thump Yanks

UNDATED (AP) — Just 2 ½ games separate the first- and fourth-place teams in the American League East. Tampa Bay still leads the division by one game over the New York Yankees, but the Blue Jays are within two games of first after a win over the Rays.

The Rays and Jays were tied 3-3 until Jose Bautista belted a solo homer to spark a four-run sixth in Toronto's 8-5 victory over Tampa Bay. Jose Reyes and Dioner Navarro also hit solo shots to help the Jays beat the Rays for just the second time in eight games this season.

The Rays loaded the bases with one out in the eighth before Roberto Osuna struck out Steven Souza Jr. and Nick Franklin to end the threat.

The outcome puts Toronto two games off the division lead and a half-game ahead of idle Baltimore.

Meanwhile, the Phillies rocked Michael Pineda for eight runs and 11 hits in 3 1/3 innings of an 11-8 win over the Yankees in New York. Maikel Franco was 4-for-5 with two home runs, five RBIs and three runs scored as Philadelphia won for just the seventh time in 30 games. Cesar Hernandez and Ryan Howard drove in two runs apiece to offset Bret Gardner's three-run blast and Brian McCann's solo shot for the Yankees.

Elsewhere in the majors:

— Joe Blanton struck out seven while giving up just run and two hits in six innings of Kansas City's 4-1 triumph over the Mariners at Seattle. The Royals went ahead on RBI singles by Alex Rios and Omar Infante in the second, one inning after Robinson Cano  homered off Blanton. The Royals still top the AL Central by 3 1/2 games over Minnesota.

— The Twins crushed the Chicago White Sox 13-2 as Kennys Vargas was 4-for-4 with a three-run homer and four RBIs. Brian Dozier smacked a solo home run and had three RBIs, while Joe Mauer and Eduardo Nunez each added solo shots. Tommy Milone surrendered 10 hits over six innings but left the game with a 10-2 lead.

— The Angels blew a 3-1 lead in the eighth before Erick Aybar scored on Daniel Robertson's suicide squeeze in the bottom half to lift Los Angeles past Houston 4-3. Albert Pujols drove in three runs with his AL-leading 22nd and 23rd home runs. Jose Altuve laced a game-tying double in the eighth, but the Astros saw their lead in the AL West cut to three games over Texas.

— Rookie Kris Bryant belted his ninth and 10th homers of the season as the Chicago Cubs doubled up the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2. Bryant and Matt Szczur each went deep off Clayton Kershaw, who was reached for three runs and just four hits with nine strikeouts in seven innings. The Cubs received seven innings of one-run relief after Tsuyoshi Wada left the game due to cramping in his pitching shoulder.

— Yoenis Cespedes was 3-for-3 with a solo homer and three RBIs in Detroit's 8-5 verdict over Cleveland. Victor Martinez provided a two-run single in a four-run fourth that put the Tigers ahead 7-3. Indians starter Trevor Bauer was chased in the fourth, charged with seven runs and nine hits.

MLB-HAMILTON KILLED

Former major leaguer killed

PEARLAND, Texas (AP) — Darryl Hamilton was a solid role player with a good on-base percentage and an even better glove in the outfield.

Authorities say Hamilton has been killed at age 50 in a murder-suicide. Police say Hamilton was found Sunday after he was fatally shot at the home in the Houston suburb of Pearland.

Police Lt. Patrick Savage says an initial investigation determined Hamilton was shot several times and that a woman in the home died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. She has been identified as Monica Jordan. She and Hamilton have a 14-month old daughter who was found unharmed in the home.

Hamilton had a 13-year career batting average of .291 in 1,328 games with Milwaukee, Texas, San Francisco, Colorado and the Mets before retiring in 2001. He helped the Rangers win their first division title and was a contributor as the Mets earned consecutive playoff berths for the only time in team history.

Hamilton had been working as an analyst on the MLB Network since 2013.

MLB-ROSE-BETTING

More evidence of Rose's gambling as a player

BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) — There reportedly is new evidence that shows Pete Rose bet on Cincinnati Reds games during his last season as an active player in 1986. ESPN's "Outside the Lines" said it obtained a notebook seized by U.S. Postal Inspection Service in October 1989 from Rose associate Michael Bertolini, which reflect betting records from March to July 1986.

The career hits leader agreed to a lifetime ban from baseball in 1989 after an investigation concluded he bet on the Reds to win from 1985-87 while he was a player and manager. Rose eventually admitted to betting while managing, but he contended he never wagered on a game as a player.

MLB-NEWS

Nova to start Wednesday

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees are going to activate right-hander Ivan Nova from the disabled list before he makes his season debut Wednesday against Philadelphia.

Nova hasn't pitched in the majors since undergoing Tommy John surgery almost 14 months ago. Girardi said Nova was ready to return to the Yankees despite a rough final rehabilitation outing for the 28 year old.

Nova was 40-22 in five big league seasons before the elbow injury.

Also in the majors:

— Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira was out of the starting lineup for Monday's game against Philadelphia because of a stiff neck that has been bothering him for 10 days. Teixeira had an MRI early Monday, but the results were not yet available.

— Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera has overtaken Kansas City's Eric Hosmer in the latest results of All-Star fan voting, leaving seven Royals on track to start the game next month. The leads of Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas and designated hitter Kendrys Morales narrowed in numbers released Monday.

— Toronto pitcher R.A. Dickey has been activated from the bereavement list, six days after his father died at 63. The Blue Jays also recalled left-hander Rob Rasmussen from Buffalo and have selected the contract of right-hander Todd Redmond from Triple-A club.

— The Los Angeles Dodgers have activated right-hander Joel Peralta from the disabled list and optioned relievers Daniel Coulombe and Matt West to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Peralta had been sidelined with shoulder soreness.

— The Arizona Diamondbacks have optioned struggling reliever Addison Reed to Triple-A Reno and reinstated right-handed reliever Enrique Burgos from the 15-day disabled list. Reed opened the season as the team's closer, but he's 2-2 with a 5.92 ERA.

BASEBALL-COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

Vandy beats Virginia

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Vanderbilt has opened the College World Series finals by downing Virginia 5-1 at Omaha.

Carson Fulmer combined with two relievers on a four-hitter for the Commodores, who will successfully defend their championship if they win on Tuesday or Wednesday. Fulmer improved to 14-2, striking out eight and walking two in his 20th consecutive start of at least five innings.

Will Toffey's two-run double broke a scoreless tie in the sixth.

NBA-CHARLOTTE

AP sources: 2017 All-Star game in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — According to people familiar with the situation, the Charlotte Hornets have won the bid to host the NBA All-Star game in 2017. The Hornets have scheduled a press conference for Tuesday that will include NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, team owner Michael Jordan and Charlotte Mayor Dan Clodfelter.

The city agreed to spend more than $30 million to upgrade their arena when the Hornets submitted the bid to host the game last summer.

Charlotte last hosted the All-Star game in 1991 at the Charlotte Coliseum. That building has since been demolished.

NBA-NETS-YOUNG

Young opts out of deal

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Thaddeus Young has informed the Brooklyn Nets he will become a free agent and forego the $10.2 million he would have made in the final year of his contract. General manager Billy King says the Nets want to keep the forward.

Young was acquired from Minnesota for Kevin Garnett at the trade deadline and played well as the Nets overcame a slow start to make the playoffs.

NBA-HAWKS-FERRY

Hawks GM Ferry steps down

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks have announced that Danny Ferry has stepped down as general manager of the team. That ends an indefinite leave of absence that began in August following racially derogatory comments Ferry made about then free-agent Luol Deng.

The Associated Press reported Friday that Ferry and the Hawks had reached a buyout of the final two years of his contract.

Ferry signed an $18 million, six-year contract when he was hired from San Antonio in 2012.

WNBA-THOMAS-LIBERTY

Thomas ownership application held up

NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA and New York Liberty have agreed to suspend Isiah Thomas' ownership application indefinitely. Thomas was hired as president by the Liberty in early May and that set off a number of objections based on his past.

Thomas was the subject of a sexual harassment lawsuit by former Madison Square Garden employee while he was president of the NBA Knicks. The suit cost MSG $11.5 million, but the Hall of Fame player maintains his innocence and says he was never found personally liable.

NFL-PLAYER MOVES

UNDATED (AP) — The Detroit Lions have signed free agent safety Taylor Mays, who spent the last four seasons with Cincinnati. Mays played in all 16 games for the Bengals last season, primarily as a special teams contributor. He was selected by San Francisco in the second-round pick of the 2010 draft.

And Terrelle Pryor has been awarded on waivers to the Cleveland Browns, who intend to give the former Ohio State quarterback a shot at making their roster as a wideout. Pryor recently announced his intentions to switch positions to prolong a career that appeared to be headed toward a finish after he was released by Cincinnati last week. As an NFL quarterback, Pryor completed 170 of 302 passes for 1,953 yards with nine touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

NHL-KINGS-STOLL ARREST

Kings Stoll faces drug charge

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Los Angeles Kings center Jarret Stoll has been charged with felony cocaine possession stemming from his April 17 arrest at a Las Vegas Strip pool.

District Attorney Steven Wolfson wouldn't comment on why the charge only included cocaine possession.

Stoll faces a four-year prison term if convicted.

SOCCER-WOMEN'S WORLD CUP

Americans, Brits reach quarters

UNDATED (AP) — The second-ranked U.S. team has advanced to the Women's World Cup quarterfinals and will take on China on Friday in Ottawa.

The Americans beat Colombia 2-0 in the knockout round on goals by Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd. Morgan put the U.S. ahead in the second half with her first goal of the tournament.

The United States is seeking its third World Cup title, but first since 1999.

England has moved into the quarterfinals with a 2-1 comeback win over Norway. Lucy Bronze scored the tiebreaking goal in the 76th minute, 15 minutes after Steph Houghton knotted the score. The rally sets up a quarterfinal meeting between England and Canada in Vancouver on Friday.

SOCCER-MARADONA

Report: Maradona to run for FIFA president

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — A journalist close to Diego Maradona says the retired soccer star has told him he plans to run for president of FIFA.

Journalist Victor Hugo Morales says on Twitter that the Argentine soccer legend has confirmed he's a candidate.

Longtime FIFA president Sepp Blatter has resigned amid a corruption scandal in soccer's governing body.

Maradona has been a sharp critic of corruption in soccer, but has had a number of on and off field incidents that may affect his candidacy.

SOCCER-WORLD CUP-RUSSIA

Budget cutbacks for 2018 World Cup

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia has slashed more than $500 million from its official budget for the 2018 World Cup after cutting spending on hotels and infrastructure.

The government is curbing most areas of public spending as the economy shrinks due to the low oil price.

Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko revealed in April that the government had decided to slash the number of luxury hotels, warning they could lie empty after the tournament.