AFP - Valencia supplanted Villarreal at the summit of the Spanish first division with David Villa scoring both goals in a 2-0 win at promoted Malaga on Thursday.
AP - The Tampa Bay Rays' AL East title celebration was delayed by the Detroit Tigers. Scott Kazmir allowed four homers, two to Ramon Santiago, and the Rays lost to the Tigers 7-5 Thursday.
AP - Jeff Kent was like a proud parent, watching his younger teammates enjoy their first champagne celebration after the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched the NL West championship.
AP - Ryan Braun hit a grand slam in the 10th inning, and the Milwaukee Brewers finished a sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 5-1 victory Thursday night to remain tied in the NL wild-card race.
AP - Carlos Beltran singled home the winning run with two outs in the ninth inning and the New York Mets rallied to beat the Chicago Cubs 7-6 on Thursday night for a huge win that halted their late-season slide.
AP - Alexi Casilla singled in the winning run in the 10th inning Thursday night and the Minnesota Twins beat the Chicago White Sox 7-6 to move into first place in the AL Central by a half-game.
AP - It had been 41 years since Oregon State knocked off a No. 1 team. Freshman Jacquizz Rodgers helped the Beavers pull off another stunner — and Southern California was the victim again.
AFP - Top seed David Ferrer was dumped out of the China Open on Thursday, while on the women's side home favourite Zheng Jie cruised through to the quarter-finals.
AP - Detroit Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom has a broken nose after being hit in the face with a puck during an exhibition game. -- read full article
AFP - Terry Venables was Thursday contemplating an offer to step into the hotseat at troubled Newcastle, who have been managerless since Kevin Keegan's abrupt departure earlier this month.
AP - Mickey Vernon, a two-time American League batting champion with the Washington Senators and seven-time All-Star first baseman during a 20-year career in the major leagues, has died. He was 90. -- read full article
