AFP - Luiz Felipe Scolari has lit the fuse on Chelsea's explosive Premier League showdown with Manchester United by admitting he could make a move to sign Cristiano Ronaldo.

AP - Randy Wolf allowed three hits in seven innings and Hunter Pence had two hits and three RBIs to help the Houston Astros snap a five-game losing streak with a 5-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.

AP - Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban says forward Josh Howard realizes his comments about the national anthem were wrong and the player has apologized.

AP - LaDainian Tomlinson returned to practice in a limited role Friday and is listed as questionable for the San Diego Chargers' game against the New York Jets on Monday night.

AP - Pinch-hitter Daniel Murphy delivered a tiebreaking double in the eighth inning and the New York Mets regained first place in the NL East by beating the Atlanta Braves 9-5 on Friday night.

AP - Carlos Pena homered and drove in four runs — with help from a replay reversal — and the Tampa Bay Rays routed the Minnesota Twins 11-1 on Friday night to close in on clinching the first playoff berth in franchise history.

AP - Star running back Adrian Peterson returned to practice Friday with the Minnesota Vikings, but he was limited in his work and remained questionable for Sunday's game because of a hamstring injury.

AP - Carlos Zambrano went from a no-hitter to an early exit, so the Chicago Cubs will have to wait another day to clinch the National League Central. Adam Kennedy capped a five-run first with a grand slam, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Cubs 12-6 Friday, slowing their march toward a second straight division title.

AP - Phil Mickelson pointed his putter toward the cup, took a step and punched his fist to celebrate a clutch birdie. Boo Weekley revved up the crowd after holing a 50-foot putt from just off the green. Anthony Kim set a record for high-fives. Yes, those were the Americans having all the fun Friday at Valhalla. At the Ryder Cup, no less.

AFP - Spain was eyeing the Davis Cup final on Friday after David Ferrer defeated Andy Roddick in a five-set thriller to give the home side a 2-0 lead over defending champions America at the end of the first day of their semi-final.

AFP - American sports tycoon Stan Kroenke has joined Arsenal's board in a move designed to bolster the club's defences against a potential takeover by Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov.

AP - Adam Dunn's two-out single in the eighth inning drove in the deciding run and gave the Arizona Diamondbacks a 3-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Thursday night, Tim Lincecum's first loss in two months.