Update on the latest sports
APGOLF-RYDER CUP
US takes big lead into afternoon matches
SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (AP) — All the afternoon matches are on the course at the Ryder Cup, where the U.S. enjoys a 9-3 lead over the European team.
The featured pairing in fourballs is in the day’s final match, where Dustin Johnson and Collin Morikawa hope to keep up their winning ways against Ian Poulter and Rory McIlroy. Johnson is looking for his fourth point of the competition, after he and Morikawa remained unbeaten with a 2-and-1 win in morning foursomes. Morikawa and Johnson also paired together in Friday’s opening foursomes and won a point for the U.S. team.
The U.S. has won all three sessions, and all by the same 3-1 score. The lead is the biggest either team has held after three sessions in the modern version of the Ryder Cup.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Cardinals seek franchise-best 15th straight win
UNDATED (AP) — The surging Cardinals are going for a franchise-record 15th consecutive win as they face the Cubs at Wrigley Field. St. Louis swept a doubleheader against the Cubs on Friday, equaling a 14-game run in July 1935. The winning streak has rocketed the Cardinals into control of the second NL wild card, leading Philadelphia by five games.
In other highlights of the Saturday schedule:
— The Yankees and Red Sox continue a three-game set at Fenway Park with huge postseason implications. New York beat Boston 8-3 Friday night to pull within a game of the Red Sox for the top AL wild card. Toronto and Seattle are two games behind the Yankees. Left-hander Nestor Cortes has been on a roll this month for New York, striking out 30 and walking six over 22 1/3 innings spanning four starts. He’ll oppose Red Sox righty Nick Pivetta, who is winless in his past five starts and allowed four runs in 1 2/3 innings against the Yankees on Aug. 18.
— The Phillies are putting their NL East hopes on emerging left-hander Ranger Suarez, who is 1-2 with a 1.99 ERA in 10 starts since moving from the bullpen to the rotation in August. The 26-year-old will face the visiting Pirates in a matinee as Philadelphia tries to gain ground on first-place Atlanta. Right-hander Wil Crow is slated to start for Pittsburgh.
— Toronto ace Robbie Ray can bolster his Cy Young Award resume when he takes the mound at Minnesota. Ray, the AL pitcher of the month for August, has allowed seven runs in 16 innings over his last three starts. The Twins will activate John Gant from the injured list to start. He has been out since Sept. 14 with a left abdominal strain. Toronto reliever Ryan Borucki will sit out a second straight night after having a three-game suspension reduced to two. Borucki was punished by Major League Baseball on Thursday for intentionally hitting Tampa Bay’s Kevin Kiermaier (KEER’-my-ur) with a pitch the day before.
— Clayton Kershaw makes his third start since returning from the injured list when the Los Angeles Dodgers visit last-place Arizona. The three-time Cy Young Award winner has allowed two runs and struck out 13 over 9 1/3 innings since missing more than two months with inflammation in his left elbow. The Diamondbacks send Zac Gallen to the mound. The defending Dodgers are a game behind first-place San Francisco in the NL West, though both teams have clinched a playoff berth.
NFL-STEELERS-WATT
TJ Watt ruled out against Cincinnati
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers star outside linebacker T.J. Watt won’t play against Cincinnati after all. The team has downgraded Watt from questionable to out for Sunday’s home game.
Watt is dealing with a groin injury. He was hurt in the second quarter of last weekend’s 26-17 loss to Las Vegas. He was limited in practice this week but said Friday he was hoping to play.
Watt’s absence means the Steelers will be without both of their starting outside linebackers on Sunday. Alex Highsmith was already ruled out due to a groin injury.
F1-RUSSIAN GP
Norris snatches pole position in wet Russian GP qualifying
SOCHI, Russia (AP) — Lando Norris has taken the pole position for the first time in a rainy qualifying session for the Russian Grand Prix after timing his final fast lap to perfection on a drying track.
The McLaren driver set the pace with a time of 1 minute, 41.993 seconds in the dying seconds of the session after switching to slick tires as the racing line dried. He pushed Carlos Sainz into second place as George Russell took third for Williams.
Lewis Hamilton placed fourth for Mercedes. Max Verstappen of Red Bull leads the championship standings but will start from the back of the grid in the race Sunday because he changed his engine.
