LOCAL

LOCAL

Hennessey gets save

MIAMI — The San Francisco Giants scored three times off a trio of seventh-inning errors, then watched Florida match a season-high by stranding 14 runners — five in the last two innings — in a 6-5 victory over the Marlins, who’ve lost all three games of their weekened series.

Ray Durham hit his 10th homer and Kevin Frandsen added his third for San Francisco, which has won four straight. Miami native Vinnie Chulk (5-4) got the win after retiring two batters in the sixth, and Brad Hennessey stranded runners on the corners in the ninth for his 12th save in 14 chances. Hennessey pitched collegiately at YSU.

Touch Football League

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown Touch Football League has a final registration period for the upcoming season.

Play begins Sept. 9 with the 8-on-8 league in action at Ipe Field on Sundays. Games on Wednesday and Thursday are played at South Stadium.

To register a team, call (330) 717-0784.

WNBA

•Liberty 58, Sky 52

NEW YORK — The New York Liberty are in the playoffs.

Shameka Christon scored eight of her 15 points in the final 6 minutes to lead the Liberty to a 58-52 victory over the Chicago Sky on Sunday, giving New York the last postseason berth in the Eastern Conference.

Janel McCarville had 10 of her 14 points in the fourth quarter, and Cathrine Kraayeveld added 12 points for the Liberty (16-18).

Dominique Canty scored 14 points for Chicago (14-20).

•Mystics 76, Sun 74

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Monique Currie made a 3-pointer with 0.1 seconds left to lift Washington over Connecticut.

Alana Beard led the Mystics (16-18) with 21 points.

Katie Douglas had 21 points for the Sun (18-16), and Lindsay Whalen added 19 points and seven assists.

•Fever 72, Shock 66

INDIANAPOLIS — Tamika Whitmore had 10 of her 18 points in the fourth quarter to lead Indiana.

Top-seed Detroit tied a season-high 24 turnovers in its fourth straight loss.

Anna DeForge added 17 points and a season-high five steals for Indiana.

•Silver Stars 81, Lynx 55

MINNEAPOLIS — Kristen Mann scored 19 points to help Minnesota beat San Antonio.

Shanna Crossley had 20 points for San Antonio (20-14), which had already clinched the second spot in the Western Conference playoffs.

Minnesota, which won its final two games, finished a league-worst 10-24.

•Mercury 87, Monarchs 73

PHOENIX — Diana Taurasi scored 24 points to lead Phoenix to its fifth straight win. Penny Taylor added 14 points and Cappie Pondexter 13 for Phoenix (23-11), which enters the postseason as the top seed from the Western Conference.

Rebekkah Brunson had 24 points and 13 rebounds for No. 3 seed Sacramento (19-15).

NATION

Ching’s goal gives
Dynamo win, 1-0

HOUSTON — Brian Ching scored in the first half and the Houston Dynamo went on to defeat FC Dallas 1-0 on Sunday and retake the lead in the Western Conference.

It was Houston’s league-leading 10th shutout of the season and gave the Dynamo a one-point lead in the conference standings. Houston (11-7-4) had lost two straight in MLS play after an 11-game unbeaten streak.

Ching, who leads the team in goals with seven, scored in the 44th minute. Brian Mullan kicked a long pass from outside the box on the right into the middle where Ching punched it in from 3 yards out.

Dallas had four shots on goal in the first half but only one in the second half. Houston had two shots on goal in the first half and three the second.

American gymnasts
hope for gold

SAN JOSE, Calif. — When a country comes to the world championships with only two gymnasts who’ve been there before, it’s usually a sign things aren’t going to go well.

For the Americans, it’s a sign that they’re deep. And that the rest of the world ought to be concerned.

Led by Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin, the Americans are bringing a mix of youth and experience to the world championships, which begin Sept. 1 in Stuttgart, Germany.

There are gymnasts so young that sitting in a “cool” chair still gets them excited, and one so old she’s already in college. There’s power and strength, and grace and beauty.

Vindicator staff⁄wire reports