Miami Bryce…Hamilton hits 36th in losing cause for Texas

UNDATED (AP) – Washington rookie sensation Bryce Harper has produced his first multi-homer game of his young career. The 19-year-old phenom homered twice and drove in three runs to help the NL East-leading Nationals snap their season-high five-game losing streak by holding off the Miami Marlins 8-4.

Harper had a shot at baseball history. No teenager has ever hit three home runs in a big league game. But he grounded out and hit into a double play his last two times at-bat. After the DP, Hunter slammed his helmet to the ground and was thrown out by umpire C.B. Bucknor.

Kurt Suzuki also went deep for the Nats. The Nationals’ seven runs exceeded all the runs they had scored in their five-game skid.

In the rest of the NL:

– Chase Headley and the San Diego Padres beat the Atlanta Braves 8-2 for their ninth win in 10 games. Headley hit a two-run single and left-hander Eric Stults won his fourth straight decision as the Padres took two of three from the Braves, who lead the NL wild-card race but fell five back of Washington in the NL East.

– Lucas Duda hit a two-run homer, Matt Harvey had another sharp outing and the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 for their fourth straight win.

– Pittsburgh blanked St. Louis 5-0. Pedro Alvarez stayed hot, blasting his 26th homer of the season and driving in three runs.

– Chris Heisey hit two of Cincinnati’s four home runs, including the tying two-run shot in the seventh inning, to rally the Reds to a 6-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Reds starter Mat Latos improved to 11-4 with seven strong innings, striking out seven.

– Ex-Astro Hunter Pence hit a three-run homer and Joaquin Arias drove in two with a triple to help the San Francisco Giants to a 6-4 win over Houston.

– Milwaukee held off the Chicago Cubs 3-1. Mike Fiers tossed seven and a-third strong innings to improve to 8-6. The Brewers have won eight of nine to move within five games of .500

In the AL:

– Evan Longoria homered twice, Tampa Bay roughed up Matt Harrison and the Rays beat the Texas Rangers 8-4 to snap a four-game losing streak. Josh Hamilton hit his 36th home run for Texas.

– Kansas City nipped Detroit 1-0. Bruce Chen allowed four hits over a season-high eight innings. Eric Hosmer’s infield single in the fourth drove in the only run.

– Oakland continued Cleveland’s woes with an 8-4 win over the Tribe, which has lost 13 of 14. Josh Donaldson hit a three-run homer as the Athletics took over the AL wild card lead by one game over Baltimore. The A’s have won 11 of 13.

– The Chicago White Sox spoiled the AL debut of Joe Saunders. They touched the former Arizona hurler for seven runs in an 8-1 victory over the Orioles. Gordon Beckham had three hits and three RBIs to help the White Sox end a five-game road losing streak.

– Yunel Esccobar hit a two-run homer had three doubles and drove in five runs as the Blue Jays beat the Yankees 8-5. J.A. Happ got the win, improving his record to 3-1, despite giving up a season-high five walks. The Yankees made three errors in losing for the sixth time in nine games.

– The Minnesota Twins enjoyed a 10-0 laugher over Seattle. Josh Willingham slugged his 32nd homer. Trevor Plouffe homered and had four RBIs.

– The L.A. Angels built an seven-run lead after three innings and coasted past Boston 10-3. Chris Iannetta and Kendrys Morales homered to highlight the Angels’ 14-hit assault.

Twins to host 2014 game…Utley considering move to third base

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Baseball commissioner Bud Selig (SEE’-lig) says the 2014 All-Star game is coming to Minnesota. The Twins also hosted the game in 1965 at Metropolitan Stadium and 1985 at the Metrodome.

In other MLB news:

– Phillies oft-injured second baseman Chase Utley is considering a move to third base to prolong his career. Utley last played third base in 2002 at Triple-A. It didn’t go well. He made 28 errors in 123 games and moved back to second base the following season.

Replacement refs to open the season

NEW YORK (AP) – The NFL will open the regular season with replacement officials. Replacement refs will be on the field beginning next Wednesday night when the Cowboys visit the Giants to open the season. League executive Ray Anderson informed the 32 teams that negotiations are at a standstill between the NFL and the officials’ union.

The NFL Referees Association was locked out in early June and talks on a new collective bargaining agreement haven’t produced anything substantial. Replacements have been used throughout the preseason, with mixed results.

In other NFL news:

– Lawrence Tynes kicked a 32-yard field goal with 1:03 to play and the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots 6-3 in the preseason finale for the teams that met in the Super Bowl in early February.

– New Washington kicker Billy Cundiff made three of four field goal attempts, making him the only first-stringer to do anything noteworthy in the Redskins’ 30-3 victory over Tampa Bay.

– The Bengals have signed center Jeff Faine to replace the injured Kyle Cook, who may miss the whole season because of a foot injury.

– Recently retired running back LaDainian Tomlinson has a new job. NFL Network and SiriusXM Radio have announced that the 2006 NFL MVP was joining the outlets as a broadcaster.

Results from Day 3

NEW YORK (AP) – The women’s top-seed at the U.S. Open has won her second match. Victoria Azarenka (ah-zah-REN’-kuh) of Belarus defeated Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium, 6-2, 6-2. The reigning Australian Open champ and world No. 1 has never advanced past the fourth round at the U.S. Open.

Defending champion Samantha Stosur moved to the third round with a 6-3, 6-love victory over Edina Gallovits-Hall of Romania.

Third-seeded Maria Sharapova needed 54 minutes to advance to the third round. The four-time Grand Slam champion beat Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-love, 6-1.

Women’s fifth-seed Petra Kvitova was a winner as well on Day 3 at the Open as she blitzed Alize Cornet of France, 6-4, 6-3.

Three-time U.S. Open champ Kim Clijsters’ singles career ended where she wanted it to, just not the way she hoped. The four-time Grand Slam champion lost 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) to 18-year-old Laura Robson of Britain in the second round. Clijsters will head into retirement after she finishes playing in doubles at Flushing Meadows.

On the men’s side of things, Olympic gold medalist Andy Murray reached the third round at the U.S. Open for the seventh year in a row, beating 118th-ranked Ivan Dodig of Croatia 6-2, 6-1, 6-3.

Fourth-seed David Ferrer advanced with a 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 win over Kevin Anderson of South Africa.

Other notable winners were ninth-seed John Isner and Lleyton Hewitt.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Toronto 8, N.Y. Yankees 5
Chicago White Sox 8, Baltimore 1
Oakland 8, Cleveland 4
Tampa Bay 8, Texas 4
Kansas City 1, Detroit 0
Minnesota 10, Seattle 0
L.A. Angels 10, Boston 3

NATIONAL LEAGUE
L.A. Dodgers 10, Colorado 8
Cincinnati 6, Arizona 2
San Diego 8, Atlanta 2
N.Y. Mets 3, Philadelphia 2
Pittsburgh 5, St. Louis 0
Washington 8, Miami 4
Milwaukee 3, Chicago Cubs 1
San Francisco 6, Houston 4