DENVER (AP) – Pablo Sandoval homered twice in the fourth inning,
part of a six-home run barrage that led the late-charging San
Francisco Giants over the Colorado Rockies 12-5 Sunday for their
eighth straight win.
On its longest winning streak since April 2007, San Francisco
closed within four games of Atlanta, the NL wild-card leader.
Pitcher Matt Cain, Mike Fontenot, Brandon Belt and Brandon
Crawford also homered for the Giants, who began the day five games
back of Arizona in the NL West.
Cain (12-1) allowed five runs – three earned – five hits, four
walks and two hit batters in five innings. He helped himself with
two hits, including his first home run since May 13, 2008, against
Houston.
BENGALS-BRONCOS
Broncos top Bengals 24-22 for Fox’s 1st Denver win
DENVER (AP) – Willis McGahee ran for a touchdown and Eric Decker
caught two touchdown passes from Kyle Orton to lead the Denver
Broncos past the Cincinnati Bengals 24-22 Sunday for John Fox’s
first win as Denver’s coach.
The Broncos (1-1) lost two more players to injury – giving them
nine, including six starters – but still managed to beat the
Bengals (1-1) for the ninth straight time in Denver, where Cincy
hasn’t won since 1975.
Andy Dalton, who bruised his right wrist and forearm in
Cincinnati’s win at Cleveland a week earlier, threw for 332 yards
for the Bengals, hitting fellow rookie A.J. Green 10 times for 124
yards and Jerome Simpson four times for 136 yards.
But the Broncos’ bevy of backups bottled him up on his final two
drives as he tried to get into field goal range.
BRONCOS-INJURIES
Broncos’ Royal leaves game with groin injury
DENVER (AP) – Broncos receiver Eddie Royal was helped off the
field after hurting his groin on a pass play Sunday against
Cincinnati.
Royal was running down the field on a deep route when he pulled
up and fell to the turf right in front of Cincinnati’s bench. Royal
had to be helped back across the field by Broncos trainers. Royal’s
return is listed as questionable.
The banged-up Broncos already were without Pro Bowler Brandon
Lloyd, who didn’t suit up against the Bengals because of a groin
injury. That left the team with only three healthy receivers before
Royal’s injury.
So thin are the Broncos at wideout that backup quarterback Tim
Tebow lined up as a slot receiver for a play.
Earlier in the game, tight end Julius Thomas left with an ankle
injury.
DENVER (AP) – The Denver Broncos’ miscalculation on Pro Bowl
flanker Brandon Lloyd left them short-handed Sunday, when they had
to line up Tim Tebow as a slot receiver.
They went into their game against Cincinnati with just three
wide receivers because they were counting on Lloyd’s availability.
Football executive John Elway said on his radio show Monday that
the Broncos chose to promote a running back from their practice
squad Saturday rather than a wide receiver because Lloyd had
practiced Friday for the first time since getting hurt in the
opener and seemed OK.
He wasn’t by Sunday morning, and when Eddie Royal (groin) was
hurt, they were down to two receivers: Eric Decker, making his
first career start, and Matt Willis, who has just one start in his
four NFL seasons.
ATLANTA (AP) – Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan threw for four
scores in a 35-31 come-from-behind victory over visiting
Philadelphia last night. Eagles quarterback Michael Vick threw for
a pair of TDs but was knocked out of the game late in the third
quarter. It was the former Falcon’s first start in Atlanta since
going to jail for his part in a dogfighting ring.
BOSTON (AP) – Tampa Bay beat Boston 8-5 to pull within two games
of the AL wild card-leading Red Sox. The Red Sox are preparing for
a day-night doubleheader against visiting Baltimore while the Rays
have the day off.
PRATTVILLE, Ala. (AP) – Lexi Thompson posted a five-shot victory
at the Navistar Classic that makes her the youngest winner of an
LPGA tournament. The 16-year-old phenom finished 17-under par after
closing with a 2-under 70.
LEMONT, Ill. (AP) – England’s Justin Rose closed with an
even-par 71 at the BMW Championship for a two-shot victory and is
headed to the Tour Championship with a shot at the $10 million
FedEx Cup prize. Australian John Senden closed with a 70 to finish
alone in second and go from No. 55 in the FedEx Cup to No. 9,
putting him well within the top 30 who qualify for the Tour
Championship.
UNDATED (AP) – The shakeup in the college conference landscape
continues with the ACC’s announcement that it has voted to accept
Pittsburgh and Syracuse. The move increases its membership to 14
and sends the Big East scrambling to replace two of its cornerstone
programs.
