MLB
Saint Louis, MO–Former Rockies’ slugger Matt Holliday continues to haunt his old team. Last night, Holliday went 3 for 4 at the plate in leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4 to 1 over the Rockies. The Rockies will try to salvage the final game of the series with winless Christian Friederich on the mound.
MLS
Commerce City–The Colorado Rapids lost to the Vancouver Whitecaps last night 1 to nothing. The Rapids fell to 7-9 and 1 on the season.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – A director of Garmin-Sharp has denied that any of the cycling team’s riders have been banned for six months by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency as part of its doping probe into seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong.
Jonathan Vaughters said Thursday that a Dutch media report about six-month bans is “completely untrue.”
Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported Wednesday that Vaughters and four other former Armstrong teammates have been given six-month bans to begin in late September.
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) – Serena Williams is back in the Wimbledon final.
The 13-time Grand Slam champion advanced to her seventh Wimbledon final by beating second-seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 6-3, 7-6 (6) Thursday.
Williams finished with a Wimbledon record 24 aces, and won 20 of the 24 points on her serve in the first set.
Williams will face Agnieszka Radwanska in Saturday’s final. The third-seeded Pole beat Angelique Kerber 6-3, 6-4 in the other semifinal.
PHOENIX (AP) – The L.A. Lakers filled their greatest need by acquiring All-Star point guard Steve Nash from the Suns in a sign-and-trade deal. Phoenix gets first-round draft picks in 2013 and 2015 and second-rounders in 2013 and 2014.
PHOENIX (AP) – The Suns have signed free-agent point guard Goran Dragic, who is likely to step in as the replacement for Steve Nash following the former MVP’s move to the Lakers. Dragic was Nash’s backup in Phoenix until he was traded to Houston in February of 2011.
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Miami Marlins got some much needed offensive help by acquiring Carlos Lee from Houston for a pair of prospects. The 36-year-old slugger spent five-plus seasons with the Astros and is hitting .287 with five homers and 29 RBIs in 65 games this year.
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – Red Sox slugger David Ortiz reached a career milestone in Oakland on Wednesday. Big Papi belted his 400th home run in a 3-2 loss to the A’s. That ranks eighth among active players and 49th on the all-time list, seven behind Duke Snider.