Twins come from behind again
MINNEAPOLIS, July 16 (UPI) -- Cristian Guzman's three-run homer in the eighth inning erased a one-run deficit Monday night and lifted the Minnesota Twins to a 10-8 triumph over the Anaheim Angels.
Minnesota faced a six-run deficit entering the bottom of the fifth, but scored four times in that inning, twice more in the seventh on a homer by Torii Hunter and took the lead for good in the eighth on Guzman's fifth home run of the season.
The Twins have 26 come-from-behind wins and are 21-23 when opponents score first. That type of success has enabled them to open a 10-game lead in the American League Central.
Minnesota starter Johan Santana was tagged for seven runs and four hits in 4 2/3 innings. He walked seven in matching his shortest outing of the season.
Kevin Frederick followed and allowed a run in 1 2/3 innings. But LaTroy Hawkins (4-0) retired all five batters he faced before Eddie Guardado struck out one in the ninth for his 29th save.
Other American League results: Cleveland 7, Chicago 1; Detroit 4, Boston 3 in 11 innings; Toronto 8, New York 5; Baltimore 6, Seattle 5; Oakland 4, Tampa Bay 0. Kansas City swept a double header from Texas, 8-6 and 6-4.
Eight-run ninth rallies Phillies
MONTREAL, July 16 (UPI) -- Ricky Ledee, Pat Burell and Scott Rolen homered in an eight-run ninth inning Monday night as the Philadelphia Phillies rallied for an 11-8 victory over the Montreal Expos.
Trailing entering the ninth, 8-3, the Phillies were able to produce their biggest inning of the season, rallying against relievers Jim Brower, Scott Stewart and Matt Herges.
Ledee pulled the Phillies within 8-6 with one out, hitting a three-run homer off Brower, who had allowed one hit over three scoreless innings entering the ninth.
Stewart, the Expos' closer, came on and made a throwing error to allow Jimmy Rollins to reach before walking Bobby Abreu.
Herges (2-4) relieved Stewart and Burrell greeted him by sending a 1-1 pitch over the left-center field wall for his 24th homer to give the Phillies the lead. After pinch-hitter Doug Glanville singled, Rolen hit his 15th homer to make it 11-8.
The Phillies had seven hits in the ninth while sending 11 batters to the plate.
Other National League results: New York 8, Florida 3; Chicago 3, Atlanta 2; Cincinnati 2, Milwaukee 0; Pittsburgh 5, Houston 4.
West wins WNBA All-Star Game
WASHINGTON, July 16 (UPI) -- Lisa Leslie collected 18 points and 14 rebounds and came up with two key blocks down the stretch Monday night as the Western Conference recorded its fourth straight win in the WNBA All-Star Game, 81-76 over the Eastern Conference.
The leader of the reigning WNBA champion Los Angeles Sparks, Leslie was named All-Star MVP for the third time. She made six of 13 shots from the field, six of 10 from the free-throw line and was credited with four blocked shots.
Moments after Leslie twice rejected Tari Phillips of the New York Liberty, Phillips was called for a foul on an apparently clean block with 51 seconds to play. Tina Thompson of the Houston Comets made both free throws to put the West in front for good, 77-76.
Charlotte Sting guard Andrea Stinson missed a runner with 36 seconds left and Leslie stripped the ball from Phillips 11 seconds later. Comets forward Sheryl Swoopes made two foul shots and Thompson was two of two from the line after Phillips fouled out with four seconds to play.
Thompson led all scorers with 20 points and Lauren Jackson of the Seattle Storm added 15 off the bench.
Bruce Matthews retires
HOUSTON, July 16 (UPI) -- Veteran offensive lineman Bruce Matthews, whose performance was matched only by his durability, officially announced his retirement Monday.
Matthews, one of the greatest offensive linemen in NFL history, made the announcement at the Texas offices of Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams.
The 40-year-old Matthews played his entire career with the Houston Oilers/Titans franchise, earning 14 Pro Bowl berths and making an NFL-record 229 consecutive starts in his 19-year career.
Adams said that the Titans will retire Matthews' No. 74 during a home game against the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 8 and induct him into the team's Hall of Fame.
Last season, Matthews tied Merlin Olsen for the most Pro Bowls in NFL history -- nine at guard and five at center. He played in 296 career games, the most ever for a non-kicker.
Matthews never missed a game because of injury. He was sidelined for games in 1983 and 1987 due to contract disputes.
Matthews and guard Randall McDaniel, who retired earlier this year, were the only NFL players to appear in every game in the 1990s. Matthews' string of consecutive games played dates to Nov. 29, 1987.
The decision to retire was not totally unexpected. Matthews did not attend any of the team's offseason mini-camps.
Armstrong moves into second place
LORIENT, France, July 16 (UPI) -- Three-time defending champion Lance Armstrong had to settle for second place at the Tour de France Monday, both in the individual time trial and the overall standings after nine of 20 stages.
Armstrong has two weeks remaining and a series of tortuous climbs through the mountains to prove he is worthy of a fourth consecutive championship in cycling's most famous event, but Spain's Igor Gonzalez Galdeano emerged Monday as a potentially dangerous rival.
The 52-kilometer ride against the clock from Lanester to Lorient separated the would-be challengers from the true threats and Armstrong covered the distance in one hour, two minutes, 29 seconds.
That was 11 seconds behind stage winner Santiago Botero of Colombia, who began the day in 30th place overall and moved all the way to fifth. It was the first time since 1999 that Armstrong had not won an individual time trial at the Tour de France.
Galdeano started the day in first place, 34 seconds in front of Armstrong, and held onto the yellow jersey that goes to the overall leader by finishing fourth in the time trial -- 19 seconds behind the winner and eight seconds behind Armstrong.
Armstrong moved from eighth place overall into the No. 2 position -- 26 seconds behind Gonzalez Galdeano, who finished fifth in last year's tour.
The 182 riders remaining from the original field of 189 will have Tuesday off before taking part in a relatively easy ride that will carry them into the foothills of the Pyrenees. On Thursday, the mountain tests will begin and that is where Galdeano must show he has the endurance to hold off Armstrong.
Irabu suffers from blood clots
KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 16 (UPI) -- Texas Rangers closer Hideki Irabu was placed on the 15-day day disabled list Tuesday due to a series of blood clots that have traveled into the arteries of his lungs.
Irabu was taken to St. Luke's Hospital early Monday after complaining of chest pains and shortness of breath. The Japanese righthander was diagnosed with pulmonary emboli, which is a series of clots in the lungs. He was given medication and blood thinners to dissolve the clots and is undergoing further tests to determine where the clots formed in his body.
The 32-year-old Irabu is expected to remain sidelined for several days before returning to Texas. It is unknown how long he will be sidelined.
Irabu has filled the role of closer this season and is 3-8 with 16 saves in 38 games. He was placed on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Saturday, as part of a series of roster moves made by the Rangers on Monday.
Texas also placed outfielder Rusty Greer back on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Friday, with lower back and hip pain. Greer was on the DL from June 4 to July 10 and returns to the list after appearing in just one game -- Thursday in Minnesota.
CONCACAF asks for another World Cup berth
NEW YORK, July 16 (UPI) -- Jack Warner, the president of CONCACAF, Monday called for the region to receive a fourth berth into the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
CONCACAF is a regional governing body that represents the sport of soccer in North America and the Caribbean.
Warner, who is also a vice president of FIFA, soccer's world governing body, stated CONCACAF deserved the additional place following the success of the United States, Mexico and Costa Rica at the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan.
The United States outplayed eventual runner-up Germany, but suffered a 1-0 defeat in the World Cup quarterfinals. The Americans in the round of 16 posted a 2-0 triumph over Mexico, which surprisingly had finished first in Group G ahead three-time World Cup champion Italy and 1998 third-place side Croatia.
Costa Rica was edged out for a spot in the last 16 on goal difference by Turkey in Group C, which went on to finish third.
Eventual-champion Brazil won Group C.
Devils re-sign Elias
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., July 16 (UPI) -- The New Jersey Devils Monday re-signed All-Star left wing Patrik Elias to a three-year deal, thus avoiding arbitration.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
Elias, 26, was a restricted free agent and had the chance to entertain bids from other NHL clubs, with the Devils retaining the right to match any offer.
New Jersey has had bad experiences in arbitration. Wounds inflicted during a contentious hearing last year with Bobby Holik never fully healed and the rugged center left via free agency, signing earlier this month with the New York Rangers.
Also last year, Elias' former linemate, Petr Sykora, won a 389 percent salary increase in arbitration. Sykora was sent to Anaheim in a seven-player trade earlier this month.
The last member of the "A Line" still with the team, Elias led the Devils in scoring last season with 29 goals and 32 assists in 75 games.
