AP - Any chance Johan Santana can pitch on no days' rest? Desperate to stay in the playoff race, the New York Mets brought back their ace early and Santana delivered, pitching a three-hitter that led them over the Florida Marlins 2-0 on a rainy Saturday.

AP - The Fightin' Phils are going back to the playoffs. Just getting there won't be good enough this time. Jimmy Rollins made a sliding stop with the bases loaded to start a game-ending double play, and the Philadelphia Phillies clinched their second consecutive NL East title by holding off the Washington Nationals 4-3 on Saturday.

AP - Forget the blackout. This was an early knockout. Backed by a dominant defense and John Parker Wilson's accurate passing, No. 8 Alabama raced to a stunning 31-point lead by halftime against self-destructing Georgia and held on to beat the third-ranked Bulldogs 41-30 Saturday night, establishing Nick Saban's team as a national championship contender in his second season.

AP - Shane Mosley stopped Ricardo Mayorga with one second left in the 12th round of their junior middleweight bout Saturday night to possibly put himself in line for a title shot.

AP - Thanks to the cup, the Tour Championship finally might be worth watching.

AFP - Andy Roddick was forced to dig deep to beat his unfancied opponent in the China Open semi-finals Saturday as home favourite Zheng Jie bowed out after a brave run to the last four.

AFP - Jose Bosingwa scored his first goal for Chelsea as Luiz Felipe Scolari's men were made to battle all the way to a 2-0 victory by a determined Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

AP - The Miami Heat gathered on their practice court, the squeaks of sneakers and the bouncing of basketballs echoing off the walls. It was like countless workouts before. This time, however, Pat Riley wasn't the coach.

AP - Brett Favre was listed as questionable Friday for the New York Jets' game against Arizona with a sore left ankle, but is expected to start against the Cardinals.

AP - The Milwaukee Brewers control their own destiny again. Rickie Weeks hit a three-run homer in the seventh, Seth McClung pitched four scoreless innings in relief and the Brewers rallied to beat the Chicago Cubs 5-1 on Friday night for their fifth straight win and the lead in the NL wild-card race.

AP - Paul Newman wanted to be a great athlete — he just never found a sport in which he could excel. Then, while filming the movie "Winning" in 1969 at age 43, he discovered auto racing.