Oakland lead dwindles to two games
ARLINGTON, Texas, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- The Texas Rangers moved within two games of first place in the American League West Friday with a dramatic, 5-4 win over Oakland.
David Dellucci's two-run double capped a three-run ninth to finish off a sweep of the first-place Athletics.
The New York Yankees, meanwhile, clinched a playoff berth and Atlanta wrapped up at least a tie for first place in its division.
Texas trailed by two entering the bottom of the ninth, but Hank Blalock's homer off Octavio Dotel started the rally. Texas won for the fifth straight game and shares second place in the AL West with Anaheim.
The Rangers begin a series with Seattle Friday and Anaheim will meet Oakland.
New York moved 4 1/2 games in front of Boston in the AL East with a 7-2 victory over Tampa Bay. Even if Boston should rally for the division crown, the Yankees will still win the wild card berth.
Atlanta lost to Cincinnati, 3-2, but Florida's 9-8 setback against Philadelphia reduced the Braves' magic number in the NL East to one.
Moss helps keep Hurricanes unbeaten
HOUSTON, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Tyrone Moss ran for 147 yards and two touchdowns Thursday night in leading fourth-ranked Miami to a 38-13 win over Houston.
Brock Berlin completed 13 of 23 passes for 99 yards and Baraka Atkins returned a fumble 52 yards for a score to break the game open early in the second half.
Houston trailed by 14 at halftime and was driving for a potential touchdown that would have brought the Cougars within seven. But Atkins' fumble return ended Houston's hopes of an upset. Miami is off to its fourth straight 3-0 start.
Houston quarterback Kevin Kolb completed 12 of 29 for 155 yards. He also ran six yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.
Miami's special teams opened the scoring just 55 seconds into the game. Freshman defensive back Anthony Reddick blocked Justin Laird's punt and Tavares Gooden recovered in the end zone.
Singh leads in bid for eighth victory
FARMINGTON, Pa., Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Vijay Singh continued his amazing season Thursday by taking a three-shot lead after one round of the 84 Lumber Classic of Pennsylvania.
Singh, who has surpassed Tiger Woods as the world's No. 1 player, is seeking his eighth victory of the year.
He shot an 8-under 64 while former British Open champion Ben Curtis, Robert Allenby, Pat Perez, Cameron Beckman and Richard S. Johnson all were at 67.
Kevin Na was also at 5-under through 14 holes when play was called for the day. Fog delayed the start of the first round, which will be completed early Friday.
Singh, who has wrapped up Player of the Year honors with his big season, will break Woods' single-season earnings record if he wins this week.
"I do the same thing over and over again with my golf swing," Singh said. "The more I do it, the better it gets. I think now my swing is into a plane where if I just keep doing what I'm doing, it should stay the same."
Cyclist Hamilton cleared by blood test
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- A second blood test has cleared American cyclist Tyler Hamilton of doping allegations, it was announced Thursday.
The 33-year-old Hamilton will keep the gold medal he won in the road time trial at last month's Olympics.
Earlier this week, the International Olympic Committee announced Hamilton had failed a blood doping test. The IOC had been informed by the World Anti-Doping Agency's laboratory in Athens of a suspicious result following the analysis of Hamilton's blood sample provided on Aug. 19, one day after the race.
But a second test this week proved inconclusive and the IOC said it "would not be pursuing sanctions regarding this matter."
Hamilton denied the allegations from the start, saying he was "100 percent innocent."
Davis Cup semifinals begin Friday
CHARLESTON, S.C., Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish will play singles matches Friday as the United States takes on Belarus in the semifinals of the Davis Cup.
Roddick will begin play at the Family Circle Tennis Center against Vladimir Voltchkov.
"It will be exciting to get out there first and get out of the gates, but either way you've got to win three sets," Roddick said. "It's important to get off to a good start and that responsibility is on me right now. I'm looking forward to it."
Fish will then take on Max Mirnyi, the leading player from Belarus. They met at the Olympics last month with Fish winning en route to the silver medal.
Twins Bob and Mike Bryan will face Mirnyi and Alexander Skrypko in Saturday's doubles match. The reverse singles will be played Sunday.
The United States has not won the Davis Cup in nine years, but beat Austria and Sweden to reach the semifinals. Belarus has defeated Russia and Argentina in its Davis Cup World Group debut.
France will play in Spain in the other semifinal. The Davis Cup Finals will be held in early December.
