UNDATED (AP) – The New York Yankees didn’t miss CC Sabathia on Monday night. Not with Nick Swisher hitting grand slams before their newest pitcher tossed four scoreless innings.

The Yanks won a battle of American League division leaders as Nick Swisher’s slam in the third inning allowed the Bombers to turn a 2-0 deficit into an 8-2 rout of the Rangers. Derek Lowe gave up just two hits in his first Yankees appearance, just hours after he signed with the team.

David Phelps got the victory by working five innings as a spot starter for Sabathia, who’s on the disabled list with elbow inflammation.

David Murphy’s home run couldn’t stop the Rangers from seeing their AL West lead shrink to six games over Oakland.

Also in the American League, Tampa Bay remains five games behind the East-leading Yankees as Justin Upton hit a two-run homer in the Rays’ 4-1 verdict over Seattle. Alex Cobb held the Mariners to a run and four hits in seven innings to help the Rays won for the 10th time in 12 games.

Toronto beat the White Sox 3-2 on David Cooper’s RBI single in the bottom of the 11th. Chicago’s Adam Dunn leads the majors with 33 homers after hitting two more, including a game-tying shot in the ninth.

The White Sox still lead the AL Central by two games over Detroit after Darin Mastroianni and Ryan Doumit each homered and drove in three runs to lead Minnesota’s 9-3 pounding of the Tigers. Samuel Deduno is 4-0 after limiting the Tigers to three runs and five hits in seven innings.

Justin Masterson scattered six hits in six shutout innings as Cleveland dumped the Angels 6-2 in Anaheim. Brent Lillibridge hit a solo homer for the winners.

Over to the National League, where the Nationals expanded their lead in the East while San Francisco fell into a first-place tie with Los Angeles in the West.

Danny Espinosa went 4-for-6 with a two-run homer, three RBIs and three runs scored to lead Washington’s 21-hit attack in a 14-2 thrashing of the Giants. Roger Bernadina finished with four hits and three ribbies, while Kurt Suzuki drove in four runs with three hits.

That was more than enough offense for Gio Gonzalez to pick up his 15th win, tying R.A. Dickey for the National League lead. He had a five-hit shutout until Brandon Crawford hit a two-run homer to chase Gonzalez with two out in the seventh.

Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong entered the game as the league’s ERA leader before surrendering eight runs in 2 2/3 innings.

The rout gives the Nats a six-game lead over the Braves.

The Dodgers were 5-4 winners at Pittsburgh behind Shane Victorino’s two-run homer and three RBIs. Matt Kemp added two hits for the Dodgers, who also moved within 1 1/2 games of the Pirates for one of the two National League wild card spots.

Atlanta suddenly has a two-game losing streak after winning 14 of 17. Eric Stults allowed a run and two hits in 7 2/3 innings as the Padres dumped the Braves 4-1. Chase Headley homered and had two RBIs for the Padres, who have won seven of their last eight.

The National League slate includes Philadelphia’s 4-0 shutout of Miami as Cole Hamels went the distance on a seven-hitter. Juan Pierre went 3-for-5 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored to support Hamels’ 13th win.

The Cubs won for only the second time in 13 games as Jeff Samardzija struck out a career-high 11 over seven innings of a 7-1 pounding of Houston. Darwin Barney and Alfonso Soriano hit two-run homers, and Anthony Rizzo had four hits for the Cubs.

BOSTON (AP) – One of the most beloved athletes in Boston sports history has died.

Long-time Boston Red Sox fixture Johnny Pesky died Monday at 92. The cause of death is not known.

Pesky was a lifetime .307 hitter in 10 major leagues seasons and compiled a .313 average during his eight years with the Bosox. He helped Boston win the American League pennant in 1946, earning his lone All-Star berth and finishing fourth in the AL MVP balloting after hitting .a career-high .335.

Pesky later served as a manager, coach and broadcaster. He recently served as a special instructor as part of his 60-plus years affiliation with the Red Sox. Unofficially, he was the club’s goodwill ambassador.

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) – Miami Dolphins coach Joe Philbin says the decision to release six-time Pro Bowl receiver Chad Johnson wasn’t based on any single incident and wasn’t made to send a message. Philbin said the Dolphins simply decided the fit was wrong for both the team and Johnson.

The Dolphins terminated Johnson’s contract Sunday night, about 24 hours after he was arrested in a domestic battery case involving his wife.

The incident also caused VH1 to cancel plans for a reality show featuring Johnson and his wife.

Checking out the rest of the NFL:

– Tennessee Titans coach Mike Munchak says quarterback Jake Locker will get his first start of the preseason Friday against Tampa Bay. The plan calls for Locker and Matt Hasselbeck to play longer than they did in the opener, with Locker going about 20 to 25 plays with the offense.

– Guard T.J. Lang has agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Green Bay Packers. He started 15 games at left guard and one at right tackle in 2011, after an injury to regular right tackle Bryan Bulaga.

– Philadelphia cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha was evaluated for a concussion after colliding with teammate Nate Allen during a training-camp session Monday. Asomugha also left with a lacerated lip and sore neck as a result of the mid-air collision, which occurred on a pass play during a seven-on-seven period.

– New York Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks can start practicing with the team after being taken off the physically unable to perform list. Nicks missed the first two weeks of training camp at the University at Albany while completing rehabilitation on a broken right foot that he hurt in May during Organized Team Activities.

– Colts coach Chuck Pagano says starting inside linebacker Pat Angerer could miss at least six weeks because of a broken foot. Last year’s leading tackler suffered the injury in Sunday’s exhibition win over the Rams. Pagano also says backup linebacker Scott Lutrus will need season-ending surgery after a torn ACL, while starting offensive guard Mike McGlynn will be out indefinitely because of a high ankle sprain.

– Saints assistant head coach Joe Vitt says running back Darren Sproles will not play in the next preseason game against Jacksonville on Friday night because knee soreness. Sproles was one of several players who sat out Monday’s practice, the first since the Saints played at New England last Thursday night.

UNDATED (AP) – The NHL Players’ Association is preparing to present its vision for a new collective bargaining agreement to the NHL when labor talks resume on Tuesday.

The presentation will come a month after the NHL made its first proposal, which included a 20 percent reduction of players’ share of revenues and limitations to free agency.

NHLPA executive director Don Fehr (feer) said on Monday the union’s proposal will offer a “different kind of an approach” and an “alternate view.”

Speaking of NHL contracts, the Colorado Avalanche have signed goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere (ZHAHN seh-BAS’-chehn zhee-GEHR’) to a one-year extension that keeps him with the team through the 2013-14 season. Giguere recorded a 2.27 goals-against average last season, the lowest of any Colorado goaltender since the 2003-4 season.

And Montreal has signed forward Max Pacioretty (pash-uh-RET’-ee) to a six-year extension. Pacioretty led the Canadiens with 65 points last season and was second with 33 goals.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
N-Y Yankees 8 Texas 2
Toronto 3 Chi White Sox 2, 11 Innings
Minnesota 9 Detroit 3
Cleveland 6 L.A. Angels 2
Tampa Bay 4 Seattle 1

NATIONAL LEAGUE
L.A. Dodgers 5 Pittsburgh 4
Philadelphia 4 Miami 0
San Diego 4 Atlanta 1
Chi Cubs 7 Houston 1
Colorado 9 Milwaukee 6
Washington 14 San Francisco 2

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PRESEASON
Dallas 3 Oakland 0

The Husker football team will be without the services of offensive tackle Tyler Moore for the coming season at least. Moore has left campus and will take a semester off to consider his future options, which may include a transfer but could also see him return to Nebraska. Despite a second departure at the position during fall camp, Huskers offensive coordinator Tim Beck is encouraged by the players left to man the position. “I think you’ve got veterans in Jeremiah Sirles, and Andrew Rodriguez is having a great camp, plus Brent Qvale,” Beck said. “Brandon Thompson’s done some things there before and Givens Price is really coming on. I’m really impressed with what he’s been showing us. I really like our guys. We have some veterans over there that have a lot of playing experience, and good, young talent coming up.” The Huskers went through a two-a-day workout yesterday, their first two of nine practices scheduled for this week.

The Colorado Rockies scored early and often in their return to Coors Field. The Rockies jumped out to an 8-0 lead after three innings on their way to a 9-6 win over the Milwaukee Brewers last night. It was a balanced offensive attack that saw seven different players drive in a run. Three runs came across in the first inning and four more in the third added to the comfortable lead. Carlos Gonzalez drove in two, as did DJ LeMaiheu, who posted the first four-hit game of his young career. Eric Young, Dexter Fowler, Tyler Colvin and Chris Nelson each had two hits. On the mound, Jeff Francis pitched into the sixth inning to pick up his fourth win of the season. The Rockies aim for the series win over the Brewers tonight. ESPN Radio 1410 has the action from Coors Field, with pregame coverage at 7:05 and the first pitch at 7:40.

Lincoln – The Nebraska volleyball team will enter the 2012 season ranked fourth in the AVCA Coaches Poll, which was released Monday afternoon. The Huskers (1,281 points) were one of four Big Ten teams to earn a spot in the top 10, joining No. 3 Penn State, No. 7 Illinois and No. 9 Purdue.

The Huskers welcome back a strong team in 2012 that returns All-Americans Gina Mancuso, Lauren Cook, Morgan Broekhuis and Hannah Werth. During the 2011 season, Nebraska finished with a 25-5 record, captured its first Big Ten title in its first season in the league and made a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the 30th time.

The rest of the preseason top 10 was rounded out by No. 1 UCLA, No. 2 Texas, No. 5 USC, No. 6 Stanford, No. 8 Hawaii and No. 10 Iowa State. Along with the four teams in the top ten, three other Big Ten teams secured a spot in the top-25, including No. 16 Minnesota, No. 23 Michigan and No. 24 Ohio State.

Nebraska and Stanford have been the two most consistent teams in the AVCA’s 431 all-time polls, as each has been ranked in every poll dating back to 1982. Nebraska’s 82 weeks in the No. 1 spot is still tops on the list, while Penn State sits second at 68 weeks. When it comes to being ranked in the top-10, the Huskers lead Stanford 394-381.

During the non-conference season, the Huskers are set to meet two top-ten teams. Nebraska will face defending National Champion UCLA at the NU Coliseum on Saturday, Aug. 25, before ending their non-conference schedule with No. 10 Iowa State on Saturday, Sept. 15 in Ames, Iowa. Nebraska will play its first Big Ten Conference match on Wednesday, Sept. 19, against No. 3 Penn State in University Park, Pa.

Fans will have their first opportunity to see the Huskers at the Red/White Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 18, at 7 p.m. Tickets are still available online at Huskers.com or by calling 1-800-8-BIGRED. Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster for the Huskers’ match against Notre Dame at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 26 at 1:30 p.m.

— Hillary Winter, Nebraska Sports Information

Lincoln – Three members of the Nebraska baseball team recently helped the Santa Barbara Foresters win their second straight National Baseball Congress World Series title. Senior outfielder Rich Sanguinetti, junior pitcher Brandon Pierce and sophomore pitcher Aaron Bummer were all members of the Foresters’ squad that defeated the Seattle Studs on Sunday, Aug. 11, by a score of 6-2 in Wichita, Kan.

With the win, the Foresters became the first team to win back-to-back titles since Kenai, Alaska, achieved the feat in 1993 and 1994.

Sanguinetti hit third for the Foresters in the championship game and played leftfield, going 1-for-4 with one RBI. On the year, Sanguinetti hit .366 with 41 hits and 16 RBI in 29 games.

Pierce was 5-1 on the mound in 11 appearances over 48.1 innings of work. The 6-2 righty struck out 35 opposing batters and posted a 2.42 ERA on the season. Pierce was also named a one of 20 California Collegiate League top performers by Perfect Game.

Bummer saw limited action during the summer with 5.0 innings of work over two appearances with five strikeouts.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Second-year safety Quinton Carter said Monday that the right hamstring he popped at the Denver Broncos’ indoor practice bubble last month was a blessing because it led doctors to discover he needed a left knee operation.

Carter made his first appearance at training camp since getting hurt July 27 and said afterward he hopes to return to the field by next week so he can play in the Broncos’ third preseason game, against San Francisco on Aug. 26.

In his first public comments since undergoing knee surgery, Carter told The Associated Press he hurt his left knee in a game against New England on Dec. 18 but MRIs hid the injury until last month, when he hurt his right hamstring and doctors took another look at his bothersome left knee.

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) – Miami Dolphins coach Joe Philbin says the decision to release six-time Pro Bowl receiver Chad Johnson wasn’t based on any single incident and wasn’t made to send a message.

Philbin said the Dolphins simply decided the fit was wrong for both the team and Johnson.

The Dolphins terminated Johnson’s contract Sunday night, about 24 hours after he was arrested in a domestic battery case involving his wife. Johnson was released from jail on $2,500 bond earlier Sunday after his wife accused him of head-butting her during an argument.

Earlier in the week, Philbin said Johnson’s roster spot could be in jeopardy if he didn’t temper his freewheeling behavior. Johnson annoyed the coach by frequently using profanity during a session with reporters.

CORTLAND, N.Y. (AP) – The New York Jets have extensively practiced their wildcat package with Tim Tebow for the first time in front of the media during training camp.

The Jets provided a small glimpse into their plan for Tebow and their wildcat-style formation on Aug. 2 during goal-line drills, but had not worked specifically on the scheme until Monday.

The practice is closed to the public, so the media is restricted from reporting specifics about how the Jets are using the wildcat and with what personnel. But, as coach Rex Ryan has insisted, the wildcat appears it will be at least a small part of Tony Sparano’s offense with Tebow in the mix.

Sparano helped make the scheme popular again a few years ago when he was the coach of the Miami Dolphins.

UNDATED (AP) – A couple match-ups of division leaders highlight a reduced major league baseball schedule, one in each league.

Washington opens a series in San Francisco in the National League. The Nationals boast the best record in the majors at 71-44 as they make a bid for the post-season. Gio Gonzalez has been a big reason. The left-hander takes a 14-6 mark and 3.32 ERA to the hill tonight. The West-division leading Giants go with Ryan Vogelsong who’s 10-5 with a 2.27 ERA. He’s gone at least six innings in 21 consecutive starts.

The showdown of division leaders in the American League happens in New York where the Yankees host Texas in the opener of their series. The Rangers are riding a 10-3 wave that’s helped them open a 6 1-2 game lead in the West. Recently acquired Ryan Dempster takes the mound for Texas, coming off a win in which he took a shutout into the seventh and gave up three unearned runs in 6 2-3 innings. David Phelps slips into the Yankees pitching rotation in place of CC Sabathia, who’s nursing a left elbow injury while on the disabled list.

The top winning streak in the major right now belongs to Tampa Bay. The Rays try to make it seven in a row when they start a series in Seattle tonight. That runs has vaulted Tampa Bay to within five games of the first-place Yankees in the East and to the top of the wildcard standings.

Cole Hamels has been one of the few bright spots in a disappointing season for the Phillies. He’s back on the mound tonight against Miami in a meeting of the bottom two teams in the National League East. Hamels is 12-6 and is coming off a five-hit shutout of Atlanta.

Five games are set in the American League and six in the National.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – The NFL’s first full round of exhibition games comes to a close tonight when the Cowboys visit Oakland.

Raiders coach Dennis Allen says Terrelle Pryor will get plenty of snaps behind starter Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. Pryor was limited to just one play last year after being taken in the supplemental draft, then sitting out a suspension for his involvement in the Ohio State memorabilia-for-cash scandal.

The Cowboys have suffered through significant injuries to the interior line, especially at center. Kevin Kowalski and Bill Nagy are out with ankle injuries and starter Phil Costa could miss the game with a lower back problem.

First round draft pick Morris Claiborne is expected to miss the game. The cornerback was out last week with a sprained knee.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Texas at N-Y Yankees 6:05 p.m.
Chi White Sox at Toronto 6:07 p.m.
Detroit at Minnesota 7:10 p.m.
Cleveland at L.A. Angels 9:05 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Seattle 9:10 p.m.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
L.A. Dodgers at Pittsburgh 6:05 p.m.
Philadelphia at Miami 6:10 p.m.
San Diego at Atlanta 6:10 p.m.
Houston at Chi Cubs 7:05 p.m.
Milwaukee at Colorado 7:40 p.m. (LISTEN LIVE on ESPN Radio 1410)
Washington at San Francisco 9:15 p.m.

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PRESEASON
Dallas at Oakland 7:00 p.m.

LONDON (AP) – Goodbye, London. Hello, Rio. The Summer Olympics are over.

The Olympic flag has been handed from London to organizers of the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.

London Mayor Boris Johnson handed the flag to IOC President Jacques Rogge, who then presented it to Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes. Rio will be the first city in South America to host the Olympics. The flag handover was one of the centerpiece moments of Sunday night’s closing ceremony of the London Games.

The final show had a little British pomp and a lot of British pop. It was a sensory blast that included the march of the athletes and musical performances by acts ranging from the Spice Girls to George Michael to the Who.

LONDON (AP) – United States athletes concluded one of the best showings in Olympic history, winning the London Olympics medal title and the gold medal crown as well. American athletics won 46 gold medals, the most ever for an Olympics not held in the U.S. Overall, American athletes are taking home 104 total medals. China was next with 87.

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (AP) – Rory McIlroy won the PGA Championship, the last major of the PGA golf season, in a runaway. The Northern Irishman routed the field by a record eight strokes Sunday for his second major title.

McIlroy led throughout the final round at Kiawah Island, shooting a 6-under 66 and eclipsing Jack Nicklaus’ seven-shot victory in 1980.

McIlroy sank a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to break the record and finish at 13-under 275. David Lynn shot a 68 to finish a distant second.

McIlroy won the U.S. Open last year at Congressional in a similar runaway, beating Jason Day by eight strokes. Before McIlroy’s victory Sunday, the last 16 majors had been won by 16 players.

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) – Marcos Ambrose passed Brad Keselowski on the final lap, then held him off in a fender-banging duel to win the Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen International for the second straight time.

Kyle Busch was in control but was leaking oil on the track and skidded sideways coming out of the first turn of the final lap. Keselowski’s Dodge caromed off the side of the Busch’s Toyota and Ambrose followed Keselowski through.

Jimmie Johnson was third, followed by Sonoma winner Clint Bowyer and Sam Hornish Jr., giving Dodge two in the top five.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Boston 14 Cleveland 1
Toronto 10 N-Y Yankees 7
Baltimore 5 Kansas City 3
Chi White Sox 7 Oakland 3
Tampa Bay 7 Minnesota 3, 10 Innings
Texas 8 Detroit 3
Seattle 4 L.A. Angels 1

NATIONAL LEAGUE
L.A. Dodgers 5 Miami 0
Pittsburgh 11 San Diego 5
Philadelphia 8 St. Louis 7, 11 Innings
Milwaukee 5 Houston 3
Cincinnati 3 Chi Cubs 0
San Francisco 9 Colorado 6
Arizona 7 Washington 4
N-Y Mets 6 Atlanta 5

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PRESEASON
Indianapolis 38 St. Louis 3

A chance for another series win and a winning road trip slipped away from the Colorado Rockies in a 9-6 loss to the San Francisco Giants yesterday afternoon. The Rockies’ four-man rotation experiment has exacerbated the stress on their bullpen, and that was in evidence in what would be a fatal eighth inning. With six outs to go and a 6-4 lead, the normally reliable but overworked Matt Belisle allowed a run to score and departed with the bases loaded and one out. Closer Rafael Betancourt came in and promptly gave up a game-tying sac fly and a game-losing three-run home run to the Giants’ Hunter Pence. Eric Young Jr. had three hits and drove in a run to lead the Rockies offensive attack in the defeat. The Rockies return home tonight to open a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers. ESPN Radio 1410 has the action, with the pregame show at 7:05 and first pitch at 7:40.

The Huskers offensive line has already seen one transfer departure this far. Now they may be faced with an even more significant loss. Sophmore tackle Tyler Moore, who started the first four games of his true freshman season and was expected to contend for a starting role this year, is not presently with the program. Bo Pelini described Moore’s absence as temporary, saying he has some personal issues to work through. But reports out of Tampa, Florida have suggested that Moore, who hails from nearby Clearwater, may be close to transferring to the University of South Florida.