National Sports

Shawne Merriman should have joined Philip Rivers on the operating table in Feb. to fix his damaged knee. But Merriman didn't and now, he's risking his career by saying he plans to play. If the San Diego front office isn't mad, they should be now, Clark Judge says.

Jason Bay drove in four runs, Dustin Pedroia hit a grand slam and the Boston Red Sox routed the listless Yankees 11-3 on Wednesday night, putting an emphatic dent in New York's dwindling playoff chances.

Kelly Shoppach homered and drove in three runs and Shin-Soo Choo also went deep to lift the Cleveland Indians to their 10th straight win, 9-5 over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night.

Daniel Murphy hit a tiebreaking double after Carlos Delgado's second solo homer had tied the game in the eighth and the New York Mets beat Philadelphia 6-3 on Wednesday night to reclaim first place in the NL East.

Tim Redding outpitched Greg Maddux to send the Los Angeles Dodgers to a season-high sixth consecutive loss -- 5-4 on Wednesday night against the Washington Nationals.

Jody Gerut singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the San Diego Padres denied Randy Johnson his 295th career win with a 5-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

Oklahoma City's new NBA franchise will announce its name and team colors on Sept. 3.

Oscar De La Hoya has nearly wrapped up a deal to finish his boxing career Dec. 6 against Filipino Manny Pacquiao, two people with knowledge of the negotiations told the Associated Press on Wednesday.

The Nebraska defense's 'Blackshirt' tradition hasn't ended, but it's definitely on hold. As of midweek, new coach Bo Pelini had not handed out the coveted black practice jerseys to Nebraska's defensive starters, and he says it's possible there will be no Blackshirts for Saturday's opener against Western Michigan. Or for the next game, or the next.

If 2007 was the Season of the Upset, it might have been the last. Dennis Dodd says it's not because 'underdogs' will no longer beat 'favorites.' It's because figuring out which is which is becoming harder all the time.

Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis will be out at least three months after severely spraining his ankle during an offseason workout.

Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis will be out at least three months after severely spraining his ankle during an offseason workout.

Oregon officials say an autopsy shows former Portland Trail Blazers center Kevin Duckworth died when his enlarged heart failed.

Joe Sakic has decided to play in 2008-09, signing a one-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche after spending months pondering retirement.

Jason Marquis shut down Pittsburgh's batters, and the Chicago Cubs turned two well-placed bunts into two runs in the seventh inning and swept yet another three-game series from the Pirates with a 2-0 victory Wednesday.

The surgeon's knife can wait. Shawne Merriman is going to play football, two torn knee ligaments and all.

Pedro Alvarez, the No. 2 pick in June amateur draft, was been placed on Major League Baseball's restricted list Wednesday after his agent claimed the contract Alvarez agreed to with the Pittsburgh Pirates minutes before the Aug. 15 signing deadline is not valid.

Indiana defensive end Greg Middleton, who led the nation with 16 sacks last season, and three other players have been suspended for one game for undisclosed disciplinary reasons.

The Boston Red Sox have outfield depth after completing a trade with the Atlanta Braves for center fielder Mark Kotsay.

Jelena Jankovic outlasted Sweden's Sofia Arvidsson 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-5 Wednesday on yet another uncharacteristically mild August day in Flushing Meadows at the U.S. Open.