Giants rout Angels
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Jeff Kent and Benito Santiago, who have struggled while batting in front of and behind superstar Barry Bonds, combined to drive in seven runs Thursday night and boost the San Francisco Giants to within one step of a World Series title with a 16-4 blasting of the Anaheim Angels.
San Francisco jumped to a 6-0 lead in the opening two innings only to have Anaheim battle its way back into the game. Kent then provided two-run homers in both the sixth and seventh innings as part of a late-game assault that turned the contest into a rout and pushed the Giants to a 3-2 advantage in the best-of-seven series.
The Giants put together a 16-hit onslaught in the final game of the year on their home field.
After an off day Friday, action will resume Saturday night in Anaheim, where the Giants will attempt to win their first World Series title in 48 years.
Bonds, San Francisco's cleanup hitter and the all-time single-season home run record holder, has been a major force in his first World Series. But Kent, batting third, and Santiago, in the fifth spot in the order, had contributed little in the first four games.
They had combined for a .182 batting average with three runs scored and four RBI.
With control of the World Series on the line Friday night, Kent walked and scored in the first inning, doubled and scored in the second, launched a game-breaking homer in the sixth and delivered another blast in the seventh.
Santiago, meanwhile, produced a run with a sacrifice fly in the first and singled in two runs in the second.
The Giants batted around in the first and sent seven men to the plate in the second against starter Jarrod Washburn, who was also the losing pitcher in Game 1.
Primeau carries Flyers past Canadiens
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Michal Handzus recorded his first multi-goal game in a Philadelphia uniform Thursday night and Keith Primeau netted his first two goals of the season as to carry the Flyers past the Montreal Canadiens, 6-2.
After John LeClair lit up reigning Vezina and Hart Trophy winner Jose Theodore for four goals in Philadelphia's 6-2 win on Oct. 15, the Flyers relied on their two hulking centers to lead them to their first home victory over the Canadiens since Feb. 4, 1999 -- a span of eight games.
With the score tied at 1-1 after one period, the 6-5 Primeau gave Philadelphia the lead 2:26 into the second with his first goal of the season.
Handzus, also 6-5, added goals 2:10 apart later in the session to stake the Flyers to a 4-1 lead and end the night for Theodore, who has allowed four or more goals in three of his six starts this season.
Other NHL results: New York Islanders 5, Florida 3; Ottawa 2, Boston 2; San Jose 2, Nashville 1; Minnesota 3, Chicago 2; St. Louis 2, Edmonton 1; Dallas 3, Calgary 3; Colorado 3, Phoenix 2; Anaheim 2, Vancouver 2.
Wolfpack wins ninth straight
CLEMSON, S.C., Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Freshman T.A. McLendon rushed for a career-high 179 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries Thursday night as ninth-ranked North Carolina State routed Atlantic Coast Conference rival Clemson, 38-6, to improve to 9-0 for the first time in school history.
In 1967, current coach Chuck Amato was a senior linebacker on the only other North Carolina State team that started 8-0. That squad, known for its "White Shoes" defense, was ranked third before losing to unranked Penn State and Clemson in its final two regular season games.
Four times since 1989, Clemson has handed North Carolina State its first loss of the season, but the Wolfpack (9-0, 4-0 ACC) were never threatened in this one. They got dominant play from their special teams and defense, taking the usually vocal crowd at "Death Valley" out of the game early.
Safety Terrence Holt returned a blocked punt for a touchdown, recovered a fumble that set up another score and intercepted a pass that turned back a Clemson threat in the third quarter.
Clemson (4-4, 2-3) avoided the shutout when Justin Miller returned a kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown with 7:52 remaining in the contest.
Not to be outdone, Jerricho Cotchery answered by returning an onside kick 42 yards, the third touchdown in 31 seconds, to make it 38-6.
Columbus wins U.S. Open Cup
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Freddy Garcia's 30th-minute goal Thursday night propelled Columbus to a 1-0 triumph over the Los Angeles Galaxy, giving the Crew the 2002 U.S. Open Cup title.
The Crew collected the first trophy in the club's seven-year history by toppling the Galaxy, who captured their first MLS Cup championship Sunday.
The lone goal came when Brian West raced past defender Alexi Lalas and served a cross into the area. Goalkeeper Matt Reis got a piece of it but failed to hold it, and the ball dropped at Garcia's feet for a clinical finish.
The Crew improved their all-time home mark in the Open Cup to 7
1.
Tour de France announces 2003 route
PARIS, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Officials of the Tour de France announced Thursday next year's event will be conducted over a course that traces the route of the first race 100 years ago.
A galaxy of former champions, including five-time winner Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx, Miguel Indurain, American Greg Lemond, Marco Pantani and Jan Ullrich, joined four-time defending champion Lance Armstrong at the announcement ceremony.
The 2003 race, from July 5-27, will involve 22 teams and cover 3,350 kilometers in 20 stages.
It will visit original Tour cities Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Nantes and Ville d'Avray as well as Sedan, Troyes and Bayonne.
For the first time in 50 years, the race will start in the heart of Paris with a seven-kilometer individual time trial on July 5 and end, in keeping with a century of tradition, on the Champs Elysees three weeks later.
On start day, the teams will mass in Stade de France before setting out from the cafe Reveil Matin just as the first Tour riders did.
The centenary race will have seven mountain stages -- three in the Alps, including ascents of the col du Galibier and Alpe d'Huez, plus four in the Pyrenees.
Becker guilty of tax evasion
MUNICH, Germany, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Retired tennis star Boris Becker was found guilty of tax evasion Thursday and was given a two-year suspended sentence and a fine by a German court.
Becker had hoped for leniency after paying $3 million that he owed last week and admitting in court Wednesday that he made a mistake by not paying his taxes.
The three-time Wimbledon champion also was given a fine of about $500,000.
During the one-day trail, Becker admitted he kept a residence in Germany 10 years ago while claiming he lived in the tax haven of Monaco. State prosecutors claimed the three-time Wimbledon champion deliberately gave false information to save money and demanded he be jailed for 3 1/2 years.
Herron posts career-best round
PINE MOUNTAIN, Ga., Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Tim Herron, in the midst of his worst season on the PGA Tour, posted the best round of his career Thursday, carding a bogey-free 9-under-par 63 for a two-stroke lead at the Buick Challenge.
Herron, known as "Lumpy," had an eagle and seven birdies, playing a 10-hole stretch in 8-under on a bogey-free day at Callaway Gardens Resort's Mountain View Course.
He came into this event ranked 71st on the money list with $862,417 after having never placed worst than 65th. He cannot qualify for next week's Tour Championship, even with the $666,000 top prize.
Herron was two strokes better than a group of six players that included world No. 2 Phil Mickelson, who is competing for the first time since the Ryder Cup.
Managers falling into place
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Although official announcements will be delayed until after the World Series, baseball's managerial derby was in full swing Thursday.
Various reports said Seattle's Lou Piniella had accepted a deal to manage the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Art Howe had agreed to leave Oakland to join the New York Mets and that Athletics bench coach would replace Howe.
The Devil Rays first met with Piniella last Saturday, one day after reaching a compensation agreement with Seattle that enabled them to begin negotiating with the man who has managed the Mariners for the last 10 years.
Piniella announced last week that he was leaving to manage closer to home. Since he has a year remaining on his contract with Seattle, the Mariners are entitled to compensation if Piniella manages elsewhere in 2003.
The Mets also were interested in Piniella but reportedly were unable to reach a compensation agreement with the Mariners.
Newsday said the Mariners wanted future Hall of Fame second baseman Roberto Alomar and top shortstop prospect Jose Reyes for Piniella and high-priced second baseman Bret Boone.
The Devil Rays also interviewed Macha and New York Yankees coaches Willie Randolph and Lee Mazzilli.
Jordan sues woman for alleged extortion
CHICAGO, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Basketball legend Michael Jordan is suing a California woman for allegedly trying to extort $5 million from him in exchange for her silence about their relationship more than a decade ago.
Court documents Thursday did not specify the nature of the relationship between Jordan and Karla Knafel, a one-time aspiring singer and Indiana native who now lives in Long Beach, Calif. The suit claims Jordan agreed to pay the woman $250,000 the first time she threatened to make their relationship public but then her attorney allegedly contacted Jordan's lawyer and demanded $5 million.
"The complaint says everything Michael has to say," Jordan attorney Fred Sperling said. He refused to say whether the alleged extortion attempt was turned over to police for investigation.
It was unclear whether the relationship preceded Jordan's marriage to his wife, Juanita. Michael and Juanita Jordan were married Sept. 2, 1989, and have three children. The couple is in the midst of a reconciliation following a divorce filing last year that was subsequently withdrawn.
Sutton named Ryder Cup captain
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Hal Sutton was named Thursday as captain for the United States 2004 Ryder Cup team.
The announcement was made at the Oakland Hills Country Club, where the matches will be played.
Sutton competed in his fourth Ryder Cup last month at in England, where the United States lost for the third time in the last four events.
"Hal Sutton's passion for the game, his drive to become a champion and his leadership in past Ryder Cup Matches make him the ideal leader to guide the American team in the 2004 Matches," said PGA of America President Jack Connelly. "Hal was a key member of past Ryder Cup teams and his performances have earned him the respect of his teammates."
Agassi defeated in Russia
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Andre Agassi led an exodus of top players out of the St. Petersburg Open Thursday, losing to Karol Kucera of Slovakia, 6-4, 6-4.
Kucera fired 11 aces, dropped his serve only once and went three for three on break points to take a 4-3 lead in his sometimes heated rivalry against Agassi. He next faces seventh seed Gaston Gaudio.
The 28-year-old Slovakian has advanced to his first quarterfinal since reaching the semifinals at Channai, India in January. He has five career titles, but none since his triumph at Basel in 1999.
Agassi, playing in Russia for the first time, squandered a chance to gain ground on world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt in the race to finish the season as the top-ranked player. With Hewitt losing in the second round in Stockholm on Wednesday, the 32-year-old American could have closed within eight points of the top spot on the ATP Champions Race with a victory this week.
Russia's second-seeded Marat Safin and fifth-seeded Yevgeny Kafelnikov also lost Thursday. Safin's bid to capture this event three consecutive years was stopped with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Belarussian wild card Vladimir Voltchkov.
Harrison suspended for one game
NEW YORK, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- San Diego Chargers safety Rodney Harrison was suspended one game Thursday for misusing his helmet in a hit on Oakland Raiders receiver Jerry Rice last Sunday.
The NFL suspended Harrison following his third "serious" rules violation in the past 16 games. He also will forfeit a paycheck.
Harrison is appealing the suspension, which will be enforced Nov. 3 against the New York Jets.
NFL director of football operations Gene Washington issued the disciplinary action, citing two previous infractions, the second of which came with a warning that future penalties of this type could result in suspension.
Harrison has been guilty of illegal hits twice this season, beginning with the spearing of Kansas City Chiefs running back Priest Holmes on Oct. 13. That brought about a $12,500 fine.
The play in question from Sunday's 27-21 Chargers' victory came during Oakland's first drive of the first quarter on third and four from San Diego's nine-yard line. The play was ruled an incomplete pass and no foul was called.
