BASEBALL
Red Sox call up touted rookie
The Boston Red Sox have promoted highly touted prospect Mookie Betts from the minors and sent right-hander Rubby De La Rosa to Class AAA Pawtucket. Betts, 25, joined the Red Sox for his first stint in the majors. Manager John Farrell said he intends to start the rookie outfielder tonight in New York. Betts was hitting a combined .345 at Class AAA and Class AA this season with 8 home runs and 29 steals. He scored 70 runs and had 48 RBI in 77 games and was picked to play in the All-Star Futures Game next month in Minnesota. De La Rosa, 25, went 2-2 with a 2.51 ERA in 5 starts for the Red Sox.
New York Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia tested his injured right knee Saturday, allowing 2 runs and 3 hits over 2 1/3 innings in his first rehabilitation game since going on the disabled list in May. Sabathia walked one and struck out two for Class A Tampa against Dunedin in a Florida State League game. He threw 37 pitches. “I felt really good,” Sabathia said. “I didn’t know what to expect. Obviously I want to be healthy and not have any problems and got that accomplished.” Sabathia gave up an infield single and a two-run double that the center fielder just missed while trying to make a diving catch.
Rangers left-hander Derek Holland, sidelined following micro-fracture knee surgery in January, completed a simulated game early Saturday but isn’t scheduled to be sent out for a rehab pitching assignment. Rangers Manager Ron Washington said Holland did what he was asked to do during the 67-pitch session, which was designed primarily to test his Holland’s ability to field his position. “There’s still a little limp there. Maybe that’s going to be there,” Washington said. “Derek should be happy with what he accomplished.” Holland led the Rangers in starts last season with 33 while going 10-9 and was a 16-game winner in 2011, when Texas defended its American League pennant. He injured the knee playing with his dog at home.
The Padres have optioned infielder Jace Peterson to Class AAA El Paso to make room on the roster for Irving Falu. Falu, an infielder and former Northwest Arkansas Naturals player who was claimed Thursday on waivers from the Brewers. He was hitless in 10 at-bats in 11 games for Milwaukee. Peterson played in 23 games for the Padres, hitting .100 in 50 at-bats.
ATHLETICS
Jorgensen sets triathlon record
Gwen Jorgensen became the first woman to win six career ITU World Triathlon Series events, topping the field Saturday at Grant Park in Chicago. Jorgensen, the Olympian from St. Paul, Minnesota, completed the 1,500-meter swim, 38.1-kilometer bike ride and 10-kilometer run in 1 hour, 55 minutes, 33 seconds. Jorgensen, who also won this year in Yokohama, Japan, and London, broke a tie with Australia’s Emma Moffatt and Canada’s Paula Findlay for the series record. Britain’s Helen Jenkins was second in 1:55:53, and Japan’s Juri Ide followed in 1:56:00.
MOTORCROSS
Roczen wins at Muddy Creek
Ken Roczen won the Red Bull Tennessee National on Saturday at Muddy Creek in Blountville, Tenn., for his third Lucas Oil Pro Motocross victory in the first five events of the season. The German Red Bull KTM rider finished second in the first 450 Class moto and won the second. Teammate Ryan Dungey was second overall, winning the first moto and finishing second in the second. Honda’s Eli Tomac, coming back from a broken collarbone, was third in both motos in his 450 Class debut. Yamaha’s Cooper Webb won for the first time in 250 Class, finishing second in the first moto and winning the second. Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett was second.
TRACK AND FIELD
McCorory edges Richards-Ross in 400
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Francena McCorory had to wait for the replay to see the best race of her life because the U.S. women’s 400-meter champion has a tendency to run with her eyes closed.
Not that it mattered much.
McCorory won Saturday in the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships, finishing in 49.48 seconds to edge Olympic champion Sanya Richards-Ross.
McCorory had her best career time and the fastest in the world this year. She did it despite running three-quarters of the race with her eyes closed, something the sprinter has done since she first took up running as a 12-year-old.
That McCorory somehow stays in her lane without bumping into other runners was just as impressive as her winning time.
“I know it’s weird because I have to go around an oval and turn left, but I really don’t feel anyone,” McCorory said. “I’ve run so many 400s I can feel the track. At 300 yards, I was like, ‘Yes, I’m almost home.’ That’s the only time I opened my eyes.”
It’s McCorory’s first U.S. title after three runner-up finishes. She also won the 400 at the U.S. Indoor Championships in February.
The 25-year-old beat a field that included Richards-Ross, reigning outdoor champion Natasha Hastings and Dee Dee Trotter, the 2012 bronze medalist.
“It’s always great running against a great field because you know the times are going to be good,” McCorory said. “Yesterday I had a glitch because I didn’t get out as hard. That was my main focus for today.”
Richards-Ross, who beat McCorory by two-tenths of a second in the semifinals, finished in 49.66. Richards-Ross joined McCorory as the only two female runners to break the 50-second mark this year despite having practiced for just three months following toe surgery.
The finish in the women’s 100 hurdles was even closer. Dawn Harper-Nelson beat Queen Harrison by a hundredth of a second, leaning at the tape to win her third U.S. title.
“I think you can count on when it comes to the lean, Dawn’s probably got it,” said Harper-Nelson, who finished in 12.55. “I was very happy with my lean today.”
Harper-Nelson, the silver medalist at the 2012 Olympics, came out of the blocks strong and was leading when she faltered slightly going over the fourth, fifth and sixth hurdles.
Gil Roberts went wire to wire to win the men’s 400 in 44.53. He had hoped to be paired against LaShawn Merritt, who holds the fastest time in the world this year, but Merritt pulled out of the meet after winning his heat on Thursday.
Emma Coburn won the women’s 3,000 steeplechase in 9:19.72, a meet record and the third-fastest time ever by an American.