MLB:
In Major League Baseball, in the American League, the Los Angeles Angels have clinched the AL West title as C.J. Wilson retired his first 14 batters and combined with two relievers on a one-hitter in a 5-0 shutout of Seattle. C.J. Cron smacked a three-run homer in the Angels' five-run seventh. The Angels actually wrapped up the division when Oakland blew a 1-0 lead in the ninth inning of a 6-1 loss to Texas.
Elsewhere the Yankees edged Tampa Bay 3-2, Baltimore topped Toronto 6-1, and Cleveland blanked Houston 2-0. Kansas City beat the White Sox 6-2 and lead the AL Central with a half game over Detroit who fell to Minnesota 5-4.
In the National League, Miami edged the Mets 4-3, Colorado blew out the Dodgers 16-2, San Francisco doubled up Arizona 4-2, Atlanta beat Washington 3-1, the Cubs slid past Cincinnati 3-1, St. Louis blanked Milwaukee 2-0, and it was Philadelphia over San Diego 5-2.
In interleague play, Pittsburgh blew out Boston 9-1.
Umpire Joe West has been suspended for one game without pay for grabbing the jersey of Philadelphia Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon.
Major League Baseball executive Joe Torre said in a statement today that West "admitted that there was a better way to handle the situation."
Papelbon was suspended seven games and fined Monday for making a lewd gesture and then bumping West during a loss to Miami on Sunday.
NFL:
The NFL is facing yet another case of domestic abuse. Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer has been deactivated by the team following his arrest on aggravated assault charges in connection with two fights at his home in late July involving a 27-year-old woman and an 18-month-old child. The Cardinals said they became aware of the situation on Wednesday and are cooperating with the investigation. Dwyer's arrest became public after Carolina defensive end Greg Hardy and Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson were deactivated by their teams because of their abuse cases.
The father of a woman who once dated Bears receiver Brandon Marshall is calling for commissioner Roger Goodell to resign because of the way he handled the women's abuse case. Clarence Watley says his daughter, Rasheedah Watley, was abused by Marshall. Marshall was with Denver at the time and now plays for Chicago. He was suspended for three games in 2008, but the suspension was reduced to one game. He has denied the allegations. Watley says he and others wrote to Goodell about the case and never heard back from league officials. Watley called the NFL's investigation one-sided.
The NFL and the players union have agreed on a new drug policy that will include HGH testing, perhaps as early as the end of this month.
The new performance-enhancing drug policy will have a more immediate impact this weekend. Denver receiver Wes Welker, Dallas Cowboys defensive back Orlando Scandrick and St. Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey had been suspended for four games. All can return Sunday under the new rules in which players who test positive for banned stimulants in the offseason will no longer be suspended. Instead, they will be referred to the substance abuse program.
On the field, Thursday Night Football will feature the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons tonight at 8:25 in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
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