Sunday FanFare 8/3/03

Briefly

Baseball

Right-hander Dustin Hermanson was called up Saturday from Triple-A Fresno to start the final game of the Giants' series in Cincinnati. The Giants optioned reliever Jeff Urban to Fresno to open a spot for Hermanson, who will pitch tonight.

Jose Lima was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained groin, interrupting one of this season's biggest comeback stories. To replace Lima, Kansas City recalled left-hander Jimmy Gobble from Double-A Wichita. Gobble will start today in his major league debut.

Right-hander Jeremy Griffiths was recalled by the Mets from Triple-A Norfolk and will start against the Cardinals today in place of Tom Glavine. Griffiths was 0-1 in an early-season stay with the Mets.

The Cubs waived utilityman Lenny Harris and recalled right-hander Sergio Mitre from Double-A West Tennessee.

The Dodgers placed lefthander Kazuhisa Ishii on the 15-day disabled list with a sprain of the MCL in his left knee.

The Rockies placed infielder Mark Bellhorn on the 15-day disabled list because of tendinitis in his right shoulder. Bellhorn was batting .215 with two home runs and 24 RBIs. The Rockies recalled infielder Garrett Atkins from Triple-A Colorado Springs, where he was batting .320.

Basketball

Assistant general manager Rob Higgins, the last remaining front-office executive hired by Michael Jordan, left the Wizards. Higgins and the Wizards agreed to terminate his contract, president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld said.

Horse racing

Amigo Hall scored one of the biggest upsets in Hambletonian history, giving Mike Lachance his fourth and probably most unexpected victory in trotting's biggest race. Lachance and Amigo Hall, a 27-1 shot, split horses in the stretch and got to the finish line a length ahead of Sugar Trader in the $1 million race at the Meadowlands Racetrack.

Motorsports

Brian Vickers pecked at Shane Hmiel's bumper all night before making the decisive pass on lap 181, then held on to win the Kroger 200 for his first career Busch Series victory. It was the first victory in 47 career starts for Vickers, who at 19 is the youngest competitor in NASCAR.

Bruno Junqueira earned his second straight pole at Road America as he looks for his first race victory of the season. Junqueira won the second qualifying round ahead of today's Mario Andretti Grand Prix with a lap time of 1 minute, 43:703 seconds.

Soccer

The hometown heroes made the biggest plays in the eighth Major League Soccer All-Star game. But most of the pro-Chivas fans went home disappointed. Carlos Ruiz of the Los Angeles Galaxy scored the tiebreaking goal in the 68th minute, and teammate Kevin Hartman made nine saves including several spectacular ones as the MLS All-Stars beat Chivas de Guadalajara 3-1.

Tennis

Kim Clijsters outclassed Lindsay Davenport 6-3, 6-3 in the Acura Classic semifinals to move within a victory of her second straight hard-court title.

Area digest

Kelso Klassic kicks into gear

After finishing only one game due to rain on the first day of the Kelso Klassic softball tournament, every team was in action Saturday as the tournament got into full gear.

Kelso Connection started the tournament with a 3-1 win over Memphis Po-Men in the opener Friday but lost Saturday in the second round 6-0 against T-Town KC.

The Kelso Travelers dropped two games to Elkville Ward-Chrysler Saturday, losing 7-1 and 5-2. Kelso Fastpitch won its opener 3-1 over the Belleville (Ill.) Eager Beavers and lost to Vandalia GAF 1-0.

The tournament will conclude today.