Sports digest

July 6, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

state

Indians’ Martinez is All-Star again

CLEVELAND — Cleveland Indians catcher Victor Martinez was named to the American League All-Star team Sunday for the third time in his career.

“I’m excited to be selected,” said Martinez, the Indians’ only representative for the game. “It’s always a thrill to play with the big stars of the game.”

Martinez hopes to be out of his prolonged hitting slump by the time of the 80th All-Star Game, which will take place July 14 in St. Louis. After grounding out as a pinch-hitter to end Sunday’s 5-2 loss to Oakland, Martinez is in a 4-for-47 skid and has one hit in his last 26 at-bats.

The switch-hitter carried the struggling Indians for most of the season’s first two months, but is batting .193 (28-for-145) since May 22, dropping his average from .400 to .303.

United States beats Canada, 41-3, for gold

CANTON — Bryce Petty threw three touchdown passes without throwing an incompletion and the United States won the gold medal at the Junior World Championship Sunday with a 41-3 victory against Canada.

Virginia Tech running back David Wilson rushed for 87 yards and a touchdown to help the U.S. win the first world tournament of American football for players age 19 and under.

The U.S. roster of incoming college freshmen crushed France and Mexico in the first two rounds by a combined score of 133-0 and led top seed Canada 18-3 lead late in the third quarter.

Petty, from Baylor, connected on a number of short passes that turned into long gains, like Kevin Cummings’ 47-yard touchdown catch late in the third quarter.

nation

Tom Fool Handicap

NEW YORK — Munnings seized the lead turning for home Sunday, drawing off to a 21‚Ñ4-length win over Riley Tucker in the $185,000 Tom Fool Handicap at Belmont Park.

Munnings powered to a second-straight stakes win at Belmont, having captured the Woody Stephens last month.

Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velazquez, Munnings, the only 3-year-old in the four-horse field, improved to 3-for-7. The $1.7 million purchase last year by Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith ran the seven furlongs in 1:21.08 on the fast track.

Jersey Shore Stakes

OCEANPORT, N.J. — Custom For Carlos ran off with the $200,000 Jersey Shore Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday, beating Snapshot by 61‚Ñ4 lengths.

Trained by Eddie Kenneally and ridden by Eddie Castro, the 3-year-old colt led most of the way in the Grade 3 stakes. He covered the six furlongs over a fast main track in 1:08, beating three rivals and returning $5.40 and $2.60.

This was the third win in six career starts for Custom For Carlos, who has earned $196,090.

In the co-feature, Laureate Conductor ran past Ghost Five in the deep stretch to win the $65,000 Choice Stakes by three-quarters of a length.

World Series of Poker

LAS VEGAS — Flanked by dozens of women, heralded by trumpeters and mobbed by his fans, Phil Hellmuth channeled Julius Caesar as he arrived at the World Series of Poker.

The no-limit Texas Hold ’em champion who won the main event 20 years ago slowly made his way to his table on Sunday nearly two hours after play began.

Hellmuth told The Associated Press as he waited to make his entrance that he felt more powerful dressed as Caesar.

He greeted his table mates while television cameras rolled, then changed into more normal attire as the tournament broke after its first level.

NY horse show

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — Boston Bruins executive Charlie Jacobs has won the Hermes Grandprix at the I Love New York Horse Show and his brother Lou took second.

Riding Secret Love, Charlie Jacobs was the only one of 29 competitors to finish the 16-jump course without any faults Sunday in Lake Placid. Lou Jacobs had the fastest four-fault ride on Kachina.

Charlie Jacobs is the Bruins’ executive vice president, and Lou Jacobs is a principal in the team’s corporate parent, Buffalo-based Delaware North Cos. Their father, Jeremy Jacobs, is CEO.

Vindicator staff/wire reports